Blogs » The Paradox of Long Lives » Family Patriarch

Subscribe


0
 
Family Patriarch
By coolgranny in The Paradox of Long Lives
September 21, 2009

My weekend was just so much fun; even though my blond grand didn't make it down. Mom and dad opted for the Kemah Wine Fest with the other cool granny, who has the new boss Camaro, as the babysitter. I don't blame them one bit for a date night.

My blond great niece did make it down, and it was fun to compare pictures and faces. She's two and full of mischief once she gets over her shy moment. I didn't have a mojo, but my four legged alarm clock caught her fancy, and I got the quality and quantity time with her. We had two year old conversations, and she assured me that she knew how to softly pet my pooch.

I also met another young fellow and his son Rico. Rico latched onto Pops and was thrilled to go hunt a hog for an afternoon. Rico is 6, and when he returned to camp the bunnies were making their appearances. Rico wanted to shoot one, and we explained that we never shot in camp at our pets. His solution was to chase it out of camp, and then shoot it. He also wanted to eat some armadillo. I cracked up and told him the chicken was armadillo and the fajitas were bobcat. Made him happy. His dad is going to do some electrical work for us on the building we put up, in exchange for some four wheeling and bunny hunts. Rico was the age that reminded me of why I have put up with this glorified camping for so long. It's all new to the kids. Our grands will shoot their first whatever and learn gun safety to boot.

My mother-in-law still makes these outings and will be 85 next month. She watches and talks with the kids and enjoys being waited on instead of being the waiter. She used to insist on doing everything, and I mean everything. Just come, and I will do the cooking was her mantra. Bring deserts was her only request. Now, it is her turn, and it is all we can do to keep her from doing her thing. We reminded her that her body is technically old even though her mind is sharp as a tack. She still gives orders, and her 3 sons are quick to obey the old girl. We catch up over wine, and I more or less pretend to be the good wife and accompany my hub to the feeders and with searches for arrowheads. This last 8 inch rain really turned the soil. Mother-in-law and I are polite to each other, and over the years have established detente. She's finally accepted the fact that being almost 60 finally allows us to be the adults, and we are entitled to our opinions.

It was interesting to listen to the new guy and her discuss the weekend. His kids were city kids and had never climbed a tree or ridden a four wheeler. She reaffirmed that all kids love the outdoors, and they develop a respect for it, if given the opportunities to do so. I agreed. MIL and I rarely see eye to eye on anything, but on this issue I agreed wholeheartedly.

I can rest with the fact that this lease is for only for 5 years, and will probably be the last for us. Paps, may he rest in peace, was the real go getter for keeping the camps up and in tip top shape. The sons just don't have the get up and go to stay ahead of a family lease. That's OK. I can't imagine being 85 and still enjoying the camping experience. However, I do admire my MIL for her stamina and her ability to get out and share these times with her sons. I have a feeling that the sons continue this tradition just for her, and when she participates, its takes her back to the 60+ years she shared with Paps. I think of our weekends as gifts to her old age. She is one lucky and blessed woman to have 3 sons who still dote on her during these outings. I only hope that my boys will honor me in my old age.....just not with hunting leases.