The Other One

He has been a bit of a secret. The second in line. His older sibling having gotten a three year head start on our hearts. And here we were facing 48 hours alone with him. For the very first time. Not exactly sure what to expect out of this two year old. 

The good, the bad or the ugly.

Strike the last two.

He has been amazing. Like opening that box of crackerjacks and finding the prize at the bottom is an actual diamond. Funny, energetic (a wholly inadequate description), sweet, a great napper (thank you) and sleeper through the night (thank you again). Polite and so easy I think his picture should be next to the word in Merriam Webster.

While I have talked about, read about and played with trucks more in the past two days than in all the rest of my years on this earth combined, I have had a totally committed, happy partner in this endeavor. Involved, inquisitive, entertained. And, even better, I may now be prepared to pass the truck school entrance test.

We even ventured out to lunch with him in a crowded restaurant  to meet up with cousins. I had considered asking them to come to the house instead, but, in for a dime in for a dollar. And my wife made sure our young ward was equipped with his favorite books, toys and snacks so that this was not as much a restaurant as an alternate play space.

His parents have long been singing his praises but, I thought, sure, sure that is just the party line. We have certainly been a big part of his life since he popped into existence, but we had never really experienced him being him.

I know two on one (sometimes three when his uncle was with us) is not reality. And I understand  the dynamic when his parents and sister are around will be markedly different. But, as they say in Casablanca, "We'll always have Paris." 

I have seen my young grandson in all his glory. I will not forget.

And my heart is big enough to fully accommodate two.

This has been a grand gift. But I am afraid to let his parents know, lest they decide to make this a habit. Oops, I almost forgot, we have both kids for five days in about two weeks.

Stay tuned for chapter two.