I’m writing this blog post on Sunday, although I don’t intend to publish it until early Monday morning. I want to write about my walk this morning while it’s fresh, but I have stuff going on after I write it.
Now that it’s warmer in Phoenix, it’s more refreshing to walk in the morning, so I went out at ten, wearing a sundress and brimmed hat. It’s already getting too warm for long pants, and I don’t wear shorts. The temperature, slight breeze, and all-around perfection made me feel so grateful to be living in this climate at this time of year. Nothing more beautiful than April and October in Phoenix.
Green and purple hummingbirds were flying in and around the yellow-blooming sweet acacia trees. The palo verde trees’ blossoms are just wiggling out. A songbird slid into a little round hole in a giant saguaro to visit her nestlings. Everywhere I walked I heard various sections of the symphony of birds making music together. I recorded some of it on my phone so I can try to isolate what type of birds I was hearing. On my way back, a family of quail ran quickly across the street to safety, and on the wooden gate to my yard, a baby lizard sunned itself.
In my yard, the cacti are in flower. Each one is spectacular, but my favorite is the coral one. Of course, since coral is my favorite color!
I’ve been taking care of my baby grandson each week for four days of 9-10 hours each (with a wonderful baby sitter who gives me a short break in the middle of most days). It’s very confining and exhausting at my age, but I love knowing he’s safe and learning. Perry has grown to love him, and will nap with him on the baby’s activity gym (which is on the ground and where he also practices “tummy time,” a phenomenon that wasn’t around when my kids were little). Baby Hudson’s favorite activity is swinging in his little mechanical swing.
What really strikes me about the baby is that he only cries to communicate. Luckily, he doesn’t have any chronic issues that cause crying (like colic). If he cries, I need to figure out what’s wrong, remedy it, and the crying stops. So while I was a bit concerned ahead of time that he would cry so much it would annoy me or especially the cats, not so.
As it gets warmer out, I intend to go for my walk very early (right after I give the cats their breakfast) and take Hudson in his stroller.
I’m getting zero art done and not enough writing, but I wouldn’t miss this experience for anything.
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I have a flash of menstruation lit in the hilarious anthology Bloody Funny.” Thank you to Editor Sophia McGovern. Hope you like it!
I went to Catholic school. It is hilarious to remember how nuns explained this back in the 50s!
LOL, I would love to read a blog post about it!!!! Things have sure changed, haven’t they?!
Yes they have.
A lovely description of your grandparent duties and a fun poem
Thank you, Derrick!!! Hope all is well!
You’ve really captured all those attitudes to periods that many of us grew up with! It’s lovely to read about your spring, which is so different to ours in terms of types of plants and birds. I’m glad you’re getting quality time with the grand-child, even if it is exhausting!!
So many strange ideas around periods!!!! I am sure your spring is really lovely, but this is such a spectacular time of year here. Spring is like a gorgeous summer elsewhere. Now our summers are too hot!!! It’s very special to spend this kind of time with my grandson!
I enjoyed your walk, your grandmothering time, and your flash prose! (Kin Types is my blog post today!)
Joy, thank you so much! I commented on your blog and hope it worked. I never know when I am on my iPad!
Two things, Luanne. First, I loved your “George” piece. In my house, my grandmother and mother’s code was “visitor.”
Second, your stories of Hudson return me to those thrilling days before walking, talking, verbal chastisement from my granddaughters who love discussing how “old” I am!
The swing time was perfection. Soak it in, my friend.
Sheila, I sure am! Now once he starts scooting around and then walking, yikes! My house can’t really be baby proofed. WAY too much stuff and an open plan. And I don’t look forward to being told I’m old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hah, visitor, yeah, I’ve heard that one, too. People were so strange about menstruation when we were young.
I love the description of your walk! Those cactus blooms are beautiful. It’s wonderful that you’re able to spend time caring for your baby grandson. Infancy is over so quickly. This is the first I’ve heard of menstruation lit. I remember the arrival of “George” very well.
Thanks so much, Liz! That’s what I keep thinking about infancy. The babysitter who helps me out is my petsitter and her son is already 17 months old, like a child more than a baby! And it seems like a week ago I was at her baby shower!
Hah, I made that up about menstruation lit. But I love that we can write about it now. If you’re interested and haven’t read my story (you may have done so) about how the secrecy led to the secrecy of the girls, as well as the fascination, this story was nominated for a Pushcart. https://longridgereview.com/luanne-castle/
You’re welcome, Luanne. I just read your story. I can see why it was nominated for a Pushcart! “The Kotex Club” was very different from my own experience.
Thank you for reading it! Haha I was a weird kid. Or maybe all the kids in my neighborhood were weird!
You’re welcome! (I was too polite to make a “weird” comment. 😉 )
Hahaha!
😀
It’s a good thing to be able to spend time with our family, but it does change what you can do with your time. In the case of grandparents and grandchildren, the kids grow up so fast that you’ll look back and be glad you had that wonderful time together. But I know you already know that.
I do know that. I think it will be a lot more daunting once he can move around. Will I be up to that? Once he’s old enough nursery school might be a good option because I could keep him before and after and drive him, too. But I don’t know how many nursery schools like that there are any more.
I’m sure you’ll have researched it all when the time comes. But I think you’re right about one thing – as times change, circumstances and businesses (school opportunities) change too.
Exactly. And they sure have changed.
Fabulous Flash, Luanne. Enjoy that time with Hudson. They grow up so quickly! Enjoy the spring in Arizona. ❤️
Thank you so much, Colleen. So glad you enjoyed the “period piece” hahaha. Yes, it’s so beautiful. Can’t wait to take the little gball out in his stroller first thing tomorrow!
Lovely flowers, and nothing beats time with grandchildren!
Thank you, Jennie! I have started “reading” a few books to him :)! And he has his own story that starts like this: Once upon a time, there was a baby named Hudson . . . . hahaha
I love this!
A lovely post, Luanne. Spring is such a nice time for us too. I enjoyed your story. Thanks for sharing it.
Thank you, John! I imagine your weather as very similar to ours, particularly the seasons.
It is, Luanne.
I love your story about “George.” Good grief … all that was true for me, too!
You’ve had quite a few publications recently so you should enjoy a break, focus on something completely different like your grand baby.
Have you thought about trying sign language with him? A former coworker of mine used sign language with her sons when they were babies. She once told me that it helped them avoid a lot of temper tantrums. I haven’t checked out this website but it looks useful: https://babysignlanguage.com
Thank you for the walk. The cactus flowers are lovely!
What a cool idea! Too bad I don’t feel up to it. Hah. Reading, singing, making up stories, diapers, tummy time, rocking, and feeding is about all I can handle! It’s a great idea though. My daughter took ASL instead of Spanish or French for “foreign language” in high school. That was interesting because it brought me to seeing theatre for the deaf, regular theatre where sign language was the supplement, etc. Thank you re my George story! What a silly time re periods!!!
I’m not surprised you don’t feel up to learning and teaching SL to Hudson. You are doing so much already!! (Interesting fact: my friend who used SL with her kids–her first child is also named Hudson).
Wow, I had never heard of a kid named Hudson! Is this a very young Hudson? Is it a name in style right now?
Gosh, he’s probably in his mid-teens now. Yikes … now I feel old 😉
LOL
Hands up all the women in the room who miss that time in their life? Can you hold them higher? – I can’t see you. Of course, I’m talking about “George” – not baby bonding. What a precious time for you.
I love the contrast between your feelings about being a grandmother and your memories of how we were all told to feel about getting our…George. It’s all one long journey, isn’t it? And, of course, Perry would love the baby!
What an idyllic time! I loved your dancy description of April in Phoenix, and of course your wonderful grandson who cries only to communicate. I got a laugh out of George. Makes me glad I am far past all that.