Beauty in the Catskills!

 

It has been a while since I've blogged. We were on a trip to the Catskill Mountains in New York State. 

Why? To visit with my middle son, Doug, his wife, Paige, and my one and only grandchild, Retta Lockett Strait!

We were told she might not take to us right away - she could be a little shy around strangers (further proving the genetic link between us). She had seen us on Facetime calls, but it had been at least nine months since we'd last seen her in person.

We were wrong to be concerned. She took to us almost right away. She came up to Alison and play-tickled her. But the party only really got started once she tickled me, and I finally figured out what fifty-plus years of community theatre was getting me prepared for.  To be the silly Grandpa. She loved my reaction and was soon sneaking up to tickle me every minute.

We went outside, and she began to gather flowers, which Alison helped her do. But when it came time to give away her bouquet, who did she give it to? ME!

At two years and two months, she was talking profusely and in complete sentences. We sometimes needed Doug to help translate, but that was fine. When Doug was a toddler, he also spoke complete sentences, and I helped translate what he said to others.

She called Alison Meme (pronounced Mee-Maw), but mine was a little trickier. She was not quite ready for the G sound in Grandpa, so I became Hanpa or Hampa (Ham fitting with my community theatre persona).

After a few days, we were set to babysit Retta. Doug and us were concerned about how she would handle being separated from her father, as there were some tears and clinging over trying to be at a daycare playtime with many adults and other kids around. Doug told us she might be upset when he first left but that she would get over it in time (he hoped).

But when he left, she transitioned to us right away without any tears or fuss. She loved spending time with us and playing different games, including hide-and-seek.

Retta is very much an outdoor cat. She loved being outside, walking, playing, or helping with many of the family's animals—goats, chickens, and the family dog, Barco. When we went on a really nice community path, she was highly observant, noticing a wide variety of insects, birds, and even a snake.

The Catskills are a perfect place for this extra special outdoor child.

The temperature never really rose much above 72. There was some rain here and there, but overall, it was so much more beautiful and comfortable than sweltering South Georgia.

Someday, we dream that we can move farther north and be closer, experience better weather, and, frankly, a better political environment. Most people are nice here, but it does get difficult with the extremism that surrounds us.

It was a lovely trip, and now we're back.

Already planning for the next trip!