Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Dragon Slayer

My Grandson above, is as big hearted as they come. You couldn't make him say anything bad, about anyone else. He overheard Grandma once, who was looking in a mirror at the time, say she "looked auwful". He immediately jumped up and got in her face to scold her. "Grandma you are pretty, don't say that".
He's a big kid. He's a first grader who looks like one of the fourth graders. That will get you picked on at school because you look big and tough but your mind is still only 7 years old. Eye-hand coordination is just now starting to take off. I'm his male influence here on the farm and we've been working on trying to ride a bike. All of his classmates have been for a year now. We've had a lot of obstacles to overcome. The threat of stitches, if you fall over, being one of the leading ones. And of course whether or not stitches really hurt when they're put in.
We had maybe ten sessions. It started out hopeless. But after about a month of alternately trying and then letting it rest a few days,, SUCCESS!!! All he needed to do now was practice.
I was working on a tractor last evening. It was just about dark but I looked up to see him over by the barn riding this way for a bit, and that way for a bit. He was getting good.
He'd gotten off the bus last night in a bad mood because of what an older kid had said to him. But after doing something he'd never been able to do before, ride his bike, he was on cloud nine. I took him home for dinner. He jumped in the car. Clicked his belt without being told and asked, "Where we goin Granpa?" "Your Mom wants you home for dinner now". Big smile now "Yeah, pizza, I can't wait to tell Mom about riding my bike". He continued, "I like your daughter,,,she's my Mom."
He jumped out and started to the house skipping. I'd never seen him do that. It's hard to break into a big smile and still have tears running down your face.
Yesterday I had chaired a county meeting that was packed with concerned and some agitated citizens. It was the end of a lengthy process we had started to change our zoning and increase economic developement. The meeting had me worried for weeks and it turned out the way we had hoped. Possibly the most important thing to take place in my first four years as a supervisor. A major milestone. But however important that meeting and the events leading up to it were, they pale in comparison to seeing my Grandson on his bike. He slayed a lot dragons that day the bike finally stayed up.

15 comments:

Cheyenne said...

What a wonderful story; it warmed the cockles of me heart. You are so lucky to have such a grandson.

Rachel said...

Great story Cliff! Your grandson sounds like a sweetie!

Glad the meeting turned out okay too!

EV said...

Ahhhh, needless worries and life's grandest pleasures. A good lesson Cliff.

It had be thinking back to the times when I learned to ride my bike - I didn't get off of it for years.

Dan said...

Good job little buddy! And I don't mean you dad.

Anonymous said...

Those lessons will be paying off dividends soon. I bet he'll be riding his bike down the lane to see what Grandpa and Grandma are up to, pretty often. His whole world just got a little bit larger, beyond that dead dragon.

I think I know where he got that big heart.

Jamie Dawn said...

Hooray for your kindhearted grandson! I"m sure he feels so proud of himself for his accomplishment, and he will always remember that it was his grandpa that took the time to teach him to ride.

Tell him that all your pen pal friends are proud of him too!!

Miki said...

my oldest son is like your grandson, big for his age. In preschool, he wore a size 7. Now in Jr high, he wears a man's size, and is 5 foot 5, 165 lbs. He is a football player now! He was born big, 10 lbs, 10 oz. Milestones, like learning to ride a bike are so important, my son remembers that his grandfather Pop pop, My dad, taught him. he was so big the training wheels were bent up into the air, my Dad took them off, and Patrick had a fit. He was afraid to "ride without" them! Go figure, but it was cool, the day that I came home from work to find him tooling around without them, knowing that my parents were a part of it all!

Rhodent said...

Great story, Cliff! I also struggled with learning how to ride a bike... many tangles with the gravel in the road and tons of scrapes and scratches wre quickly forgotten once the skill was conquered.

Peter said...

That was a nice comment Cliff, "I like your daughter... She's my Mum.

Gel said...

I used to imagine grandparents glowing with love at my children, their grandchildren. I used to take for granted that it would happen. Sadly, it didn't.

Thanks for this incomparable peek into this shining window of your lives. It's joyful to read when it DOES happen.

Paul Nichols said...

Excellent again. I know the feeling.

And by the way, I visited Rachel's blog and enjoyed. I told her that ny friend of Red Green is a friend of mine.

Paul Nichols said...

...any friend...

Ralph said...

Well Cliff, you did it again. Excellent, excellent story. It puts things in perspective.
Ralph

Dan said...

Hey Ralph, Antother good story? I think maybe by now he is just showing off. What do you think? I have to admit though, it is a good one. I don't even try to write good stories anymore because the same people read Cliff's blog. It's like I'm riding that little bicycle following Lance Armstrong. lol

OldLady Of The Hills said...

What a wonderful story about your Grandson...so very sweet! I was over at Rachel's and clicked on your name. Really glad I did.