First and foremost, thank you to those of you who have taken the time to let me know that you enjoy columns featuring my granddaughter, Lorelei. Whether it was in line at the grocery store, at an event I was covering or we just happened to be in the same place at the same time, it’s always good to hear that what I write was enjoyed.
Our columns have always been the place where we can share our personal observations and experiences, they can be thought provoking or merely offered for entertainment.
In the case of my granddaughter, she has provided plenty of material, just by being herself and growing and changing as her world expands.
She was recently enrolled in Kajukenbo where she is learning valuable lessons and tools to use in case of stranger danger and potentially scary situations. But it also features discipline and respect and she really has taken to it. I had the opportunity to sit in during part of a class; she was so focused on her instructor, she didn’t even realize I was there for about 15 minutes. When she did see me, she raised her hand and asked the instructor if she could “go say hi to my Mimi” – she was allowed to, but had to make sure she bowed with respect to the group before she left the training area.
At four years old, this is a good thing for her. My granddaughter is a non-stop ball of energy, so seeing her ask permission instead of just bolting from the training to see me was a big step forward.
She also is a non-stop talker. And I do mean non-stop. She is so thirsty for knowledge that she asks incessant questions. There are some I just can’t answer but I do my best. If she isn’t asking questions, she is discussing her day or bringing up something from the past, a trip or a fun activity we did weeks or months ago.
Her memory amazes me; it is far better than mine.
She was busy practicing her hip hop dance moves the other day in the living room, reciting the steps to herself as she did the routine.
We had a fun Sunday on March 1, as my daughter Ally, Lorelei and I met up with family and friends for a San Jose Sharks game. We had a group of 11 altogether, including three kids who had never been to a game. Lorelei is a veteran, cheering on the Sharks since she attended her first game when she was 15 months old. The other three kids in the group included a four-, five- and six-year-old, and they all seemed to have a really good time.
Lorelei started several ‘Let’s Go Sharks!’ chants and we got to see an exciting overtime win.
My daughter and I thought we might get a little break on the way home, as Lorelei had used up a lot of energy during the game.
However, since it was an early afternoon contest, it was still light outside for the drive home and the four-year-old started in her constant chatter even before we were out of the parking lot. She especially likes the ‘guessing game’ where we have to give clues about something – an animal or vegetable or fruit, typically – with the clue giver providing three clues and the others having to guess what it is.
Questions and answers, clues and guesses … she talked for miles. Finally, she did ask for some music, which my daughter was happy to put on for her, since it meant she likely would be quiet enough to listen to it.
After about two songs, she was sound asleep. We got a full 45 minutes of quiet for the rest of the ride home. We were tempted to keep driving, just to enjoy the silence.
I’m kidding; as hard as it is to keep up with Lorelei’s train of thought sometimes and being baffled by some of her questions, I wouldn’t want it any other way. Her curiosity just means she’s going to keep on learning.
Marg Jackson is editor of The Oakdale Leader, The Escalon Times and The Riverbank News. She may be reached at mjackson@oakdaleleader.com or by calling 209-847-3021.
