January 27, 2026 Lunch

 Lunch With Grandson #4

Lila

With Son and DIL in Australia, we are to be checking on GS#4.  We are, also, cat sitting Lila, DIL's 15 years old American bobtail.  She sleeps either by my head or Hubby's head at night.  When I sit down she will get in my lap.  Other times, if she is on the sofa and I get up, she claims my chair.  I put off visiting the loo so I so not lose my seat. But, I digress.  This post is about sharing lunch with GS#4. 

Youngest Grandson will be 20 in about 3 months.  He moved from his mother's home to Son's home a couple of weeks ago.  He is attending a nearby community college.  He chooses to live there as there is bus service nearby at Dad's place.  You see, GS#4 chooses not to drive. Why?  According to him, "..it's the other people on the road.."  Wish I had noted those same folks are on the road if he is just riding with someone else.  

GS#4 is the only grandkid within 200 miles.  The other 4 are spread from Waco, TX, to Arkansas, to Colorado, to Melbourne, Australia.  So our Son and DIL were empty nesters for about 2 months or less.  GS#3 moved out in August.  On and off Arkansas came to visit with her German Shepherd.  The last visit was for about 3 weeks.  She left and GS#4 moved in with them within two weeks.  So technically Son and DIL are still not empty nesters.

Now, there is another side to the empty nesters.  That's grandparents.  We moved to this area to be with our grandchildren.  We spent weekends travelling from one soccer field to another to cheer for our grands.  We sat in 100 degree temps to watch swim meets.  We bought bleacher seats to watch football games, basketball games, and track events.  We attended plays and choir presentations.  Hauled kids to practice.  Brought or made meals when the parents had business meetings or travels.  

Some days we were tired from the activities. At times, it took most of the week to recover.  Especially as we aged.  Thankfully, GS#4 chose to leave sports for the fine arts.  Well, except his senior year he tried football.  He hated it.  It was one of the hottest falls on record.  We took our stadium seats.  He ran less than 10 plays the entire season.  We were there.  Because we love him.  We donated the stadium seats the day after his last game.

His last year in high school my 84 year old Hubby took him to lunch at times.  Every Tuesday and Thursday he picked the boy/man up from school and took him home.  Often they stopped to grab some ice cream or other fast food.  Grandpa would purposely do things just to aggravate GS#4. Grandpa was there for him.  GS#4 came to appreciate the quite, gentle man. Grandpa became his safe place.

So today it was time to take GS#4 to lunch.  Even with the possibility of slick sidewalks, we made our way to the car.  We drove to him.  Then we drove to Haymakers for lunch.  Burgers and tater tots.  A double order of tater tots so he would have them to reheat in the air fryer "back at home".  We chattered about football, Super Bowl, new coach for Pittsburg.  Stuff I don't really care about but he loves.  After lunch he guided us to his school.  Cause Grandpa may drive down to pick him up some evening.  

Not sure what we will do when this last grandchild truly leaves the safety of his parents' nest.  Only time will tell.

Thanks for stopping by.

Janice