Grandma and Grandpa's house....

We spent the evening at Grandma & Grandpa's. I marveled as always how an 82 year old woman could dig a hole in the ground, plant
a few seeds, and grow the kind of garden that she does, with one arthritic knee that she refuses to replace, even though she needs a complete replacement.

She ripped open a watermelon for us, cooked Persian rice, and made us tea.
I sat outside for 15 minutes, smiling at her clothesline and daydreaming of being a little girl. Grandma's house -a full garden, clothes drying on the line, and the hot Summer heat.


Grandpa was tired. Today he rode his bike (he's 87) with Post Office tape all over the seat all the way to Super Target. I almost had a heart
attack. He rode miles, through a few of the busiest intersections in town, because he heard a rumor that the watermelon were $3 there,
and $5 at Wal-Mart. The $2 save was worth it, until he got there and realized it was just a rumor.

So on the way home with his $5 Wal-Mart watermelon in his bike basket, he got a flat about 4 miles from home. He doesn't speak a
word of English. It's a good thing he prepared by bringing his pump. He stopped every mile to refill it with air, and like always,
quickly and efficiently, repaired his bike tire when he got home. When I was a little girl, I loved watching him dip his tire into
a bowl of water, looking for the hole to patch. I asked him if he felt up to taking a few pictures today -I am so happy over the thought
of finally capturing Grandpa riding his bike. It's the way I will always remember him.
He declined.


One time, the local newspaper stopped Grandpa on the street to ask him if he'd be willing to allow them to do an article on him
for the paper, and to take a few pictures. He declined, and I laughed.

I am still so thankful that he did this. If there were ever anyone that wrote a great story about my Grandpa, it would be me.


.....

Tomorrow morning we're leaving early for a last minute spur-of-the-moment road trip to Austin. Back to the city that steals my heart, every time :)

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.



PS, my friend Megan is in labor, as we speak :) Please send good vibes her way.