By Joe Rector
Panic mode has set in. I’m out of town, the Wi-Fi connection is terrible, and my column is due. I hope this contraption holds on long enough for me to finish. If not, I’ll have to wait a week.
Amy and I left for Hendersonville today, a thriving community that is blending into Gallatin on one side and Nashville on the other. We traveled today to share some time with our daughter and her family. More to the point, tomorrow our only grandchild, Madden, will graduate from high school. It’s an important time for all of us, and Lacey and family have to contend with both sets of grandparents.
My mind has a difficult time with Madden’s graduation. This boy child was born just yesterday, or so it seems. As soon as he arrived, parents, us old folks, and family friends doted on him. All took turns holding this new bundle of cries and poops.
Over the years, Madden has come to visit us. Most of the time, he and his parents have come on Memorial Day weekend, which usually occurs around my own birthday. Nick and Lacey would then leave Madden with us for a few days. During those times, we bonded and grew to love each other.
On one such visit, Amy was still working, so I was in charge of taking care of him. When lunchtime came, I tried to decide what to feed the toddler. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were always our favorites, so I decided to fix him one. He hungrily ate the sandwich and some chips.
Before long, I noticed that he was turning red and that blotches were beginning to cover his arms and legs. Only then did I remember that my grandson was allergic to peanuts. I was scared to death. My negligence had killed this little guy. In a panic, I called Amy, and she told me to take him to the emergency room. I did so, and he was treated for my stupid actions. Amy came soon, and I’m not sure if she was mad or amazed that I’d been so stupid. That “stink-eye” look said probably both things were true.
The worst thing was having to call Lacey to tell her what had happened. She didn’t yell at me or ask me how I could be so careless. In fact, she made sure Madden was okay and then acted normally. However, she did travel to Knoxville the next day to pick up Madden. I was lucky that she let us have other weeks with him.
Madden taught me how to play dinosaurs in our woods. He’d always be the meanest predator and would chase me. I can still see his little blonde hair blowing in the wind as he let out growls and howls.
When he grew tired of the game, we went inside and watched “Ice Age” for the 1000th time. Then I begged him to watch “Up,” my favorite of all those movies. Madden would snuggle close and watch the show until his eyelids finally shut. He played hard and slept hard.
Now this little boy is grown, finishing high school and readying himself for college. The good part is that Madden will attend UTK, just a few miles from the house. I figure we will meet at least a couple of times each month. He might show up at the house for a homecooked meal or to use the washer and dryer. I don’t care why he comes; I just hope that he will keep in touch. Watching him grow to a man will be fun, and I’m glad that he’ll have a lifeline if something should go wrong.
So, congratulations to Madden and all the others who are graduating. Enjoy your lives and fill them with knowledge and memories. Madden, you know I’m on call 24/7.
