By Bill Lee(Written March 12, 2012 – Floyd Dale)
Some of my happiest memories were those of childhood. I grew up as a member of a large family (of 9) with six boys. There seemed to have been something going on all the time even in the days before television and other modern electronic devices.
All that was needed for the happy times was the presence of a little imagination and there was always an unending supply of that available. In addition to the immediate family members, there were the many like-minded friends who lived nearby on the Hamer Mill Village and who attended the community grammar school with us. Only now can I really appreciate how fortunate I was to grow up in such surroundings. I was reminded of this rather intimate family type of life recently when I visited at the home of what I would call the “Perfect Grandma.”
She and her husband, empty nesters now, live in a small Norman Rockwell Dillon County community with neighbors who share their values including their love of family. Grandma’s home is a model of what children dream about. It is located on a rural road off from any traffic problem.
The home site is spacious and borders a small tract of woods behind the house.
The pride the residents take in their surroundings is evident when one notice how well kept the yards are maintained even the blades of grass growing around the power poles look almost artificial they are so meticulously cared for, an indication of their attention to detail.
The two grandchildren, twin boys, are always lively but even more so when they exit the family car for another adventure filed visit in the country.
They have plenty of reasons to be excited and not just for the warm embraces and the ever present abundance of the good things to eat, all homemade favorites.
Grandma has something even better, a rare sense of imagination and she knows how to share it with two eager little boys. They always know Grandma has something special waiting.
The paved road nearby is to them on their bikes like the beckoning yellow brick road in the Wizard of Oz, adventure filled as only Grandma knows how to create.
Keenly interested in Motocross sports, the two boys and Granny begin their journey when the two boys have numbers attached to the backs of their shirts thereby becoming contestants in the upcoming competition made real by the enthusiasm provided by the oldest of the trio.
The first challenge is to see who can win the race to the end of the first block with Grandma as the judge.
For some reason, she seems to be able to make sure each boy wins his share of the competitions although one is slightly bigger than his brother.
The second challenge is when the riders reach the dead end of the road which is a rest stop for the contestants, but the rest is interrupted by Grandma who informs the two that it is now story time and each must tell one using the clues provided by Granny.
It’s fun because the clues are always different which makes for some very unusual tales. There is always lots of laughter when the stories really become weird.
Finally the bike route takes the three on a trail in a wooded area near the home. There is a slight hill which gives the two boys an opportunity to “show off” their high jumping skills, hardly leaving the ground but to a six year old, any elevation is quite an accomplishment. It’s all in the imagination.
Having run the course, it is time for the tired three to return home and enjoy the final surprise of the day: homemade cookies and ice cream.
Leave it up to Grandma to be creative when the loves of her life are involved.
Who has the most fun is debatable.
It is no wonder the trip to see the ‘Perfect’ Grandma cannot come soon enough… for all three.
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Bill Lee, PO Box 128, Hamer, SC 29547
