A Veteran's Journey

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end)

1. Who said, “Love is the greatest give one generation can leave another.”?
2. Who said, “I used to think I was too old to fall in love again, then I became a grandparent.”?
3. Who said, “I’ve learned…. That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.”?

We’ve been blessed with three grandsons—two from our son and one from our daughter (and their respective spouses, of course).

For those with grandchildren, I know you know what it’s like to first hold that little baby in your arms. I call it “pure love.” So much innocence, so small, so delicate, but oh my… what a feeling!

Then they start to grow right before your eyes—too fast. But that’s life, isn’t it?

I can still remember the day our daughter was born. We were in Idabel, Oklahoma in the mid 80s. I’d taken a job with Weyerhaeuser Company after graduating from college. We initially lived in the Seattle area; Weyerhaeuser’s headquarters was in Federal Way, Washington, midway between Tacoma and Seattle.

I musta stepped on someone’s toes, cause after a year, they transferred me to “Nowhere, Oklahoma.” Actually, Idabel was a beautiful part of the country, nestled down in the southeast corner of the state. Though, we would drive 1½ hours to Texarkana for a nice dinner and a movie.

We went to the movie theater in Idabel… once. After we got unstuck from the sticky, gooey seats, we decided we would not return to that particular establishment. But that’s another story for another day.

We were watching the 1984 Winter Olympics on television. Scott Hamilton was doing his phenomenal figure-skating routine and in the middle of his triple Axel jump, Becky began feeling contractions.

I’ll spare you the details, but we made it to the hospital through the snow and our daughter Evelyn was born the next morning.

“What’s she look like?” My wife asked.

I walked over to the scale where the nurse was weighing her. “Well… she’s got ten fingers and ten toes.”

I have no idea where that remark came from, but that was the first thing out of my mouth—it had been a long night. I caught myself after the nurse gave me “the look,” and then turned around, a few tears in my eyes, and said, “she’s perfect and beautiful, just like you.”

Talk about a 180, plus a few extra points.

A little more than a year ago, Evelyn gave birth to our third grandson (her first baby). “Rufus” is named after Becky’s father. He was born a month early (a “preemie”), but was never in the NICU. In fact, while we were planning on going up for the original planned date, Evelyn called one morning from the hospital and basically said, “we’re going to have a baby today.”

Of course, we were excited, but not prepared.

Yet (and this is where that old Navy deployment training comes into play), we were on the road within an hour, heading north on a 14-hour journey to Cleveland. We knew we wouldn’t make it in time for the delivery, but that didn’t matter; we were on our way.

We arrived the next day after an overnight stop. They’d texted us the day before with a picture and “everything and everyone’s okay” message. It’s a good thing Becky was driving, ‘cause I was blubbering. We were so happy.

But that’s what grandparents do, don’t they?

Rufus is now a little over a year and no longer a baby. He’s now a “toddler.” With both parents working full time (they’re both professors at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland), he’s now in day-care.

Pretty soon, he’ll be in school, then playing sports, then dating, then married, then kids of his own, then…

Slow down. I’m not ready for him to grow up so fast.

Our other two grandsons are in San Diego. They’re a bit older (12 and 10). One’s in middle school, the other’s in elementary school. Both are smart as the dickens (do people still use that word?), both are athletic, and both play piano.

Becky plays the piano—she grew up playing classical music, as did her mother. We still have the baby grand Steinway her mother had in the mid-1930s purchased from the Steinway Piano Store in Boston. And it still sounds great. When the California boys visit, they enjoy playing their “concert pieces” on the old family heirloom.

Our son, Jared, was born in Melbourne, Florida. He’s younger than his sister. But like Evelyn, I remember the day he was born, too.

Evelyn was born three days after her “due date.” She came in at a little over nine pounds.

Jared, on the other hand, didn’t want to come out on his own. Three weeks after the due date, the doctor said, “it’s time.” After 30+ hours of labor, it was past “it’s time.” Jared made his grand entrance at nine pounds, 10 ounces.

And he’s been growing ever since. I’m 6’4 and Jared met me eye-to-eye years ago when he was a teenager.

And now both our kids have kids of their own. While they’re in different parts of the country, we visit when we can (or vice versa). It’s amazing to see how they grow, both physically and mentally.

When we visit San Diego, now and then we’ll all board the USS Midway Museum. Of course, since I was an airdale (ABH2, V-1 Division, USS Kitty Hawk), I like to spend time reminiscing on the flight deck.

The boys, however, like it below decks, especially in the machine rooms and the CIC (Combat Information Center). I think it’s because of all the bells & whistles and lights & dials. I can live with that. But when we get up onto the flight deck, watch out… granddad goes into his “Navy” character.

Don’t we all?

Yeah… like I said earlier, being a grandparent it a great gig. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Until we meet again,
Andy

Andy Adkins is a US Navy veteran (’73-77) and the author of several books (www.azadkinsiii.com); many of which are free downloads (PDF, eBook format). He is currently retired and lives in Gainesville, Florida with his wife and life-long soulmate, Becky.

Previous Blogs mentioned in the Post:

• #10—You Light ‘em, We Fight ‘em
• #25—”Livin’ the Dream:” Life Aboard an Aircraft Carrier
• #67—Flight Ops: A Day in the Life of Crash & Salvage
• #68—Flight Ops: Another Find day in the Navy!

Answers

1. Richard Garnett.
2. Anonymous.
3. Andy Rooney.