A GREAT DAY IN GAGA LAND

On the emotional scale, I definitely lean toward the more rather than less end. It doesn't take much to bring tears to my eyes. I even cry at those Folger's coffee commercials on TV that they show every Christmas. Anything emotional with kids or animals has me teary-eyed. A friend gave me the book “Chicken Soup for the Grandma's Soul” but I have only read a small part of it since I end up in tears every time I pick it up. :-) 

A column in our newspaper this morning started off with this line: “Life has its ups and downs, but it's important to remember – and appreciate – moments of intense happiness.” Ain't that the truth? Last week I had one of those days (not just a moment!) of intense happiness.

This past Tuesday I was able to spend several hours doing two of my most favorite things – visiting & playing with my granddaughter in the morning AND talking with my son on the phone for two hours that night during his long drive home from the airport. Yep, it was a great day in Gaga Land. The “good emotions” of the day had me welling up with tears a few times.

I take every opportunity to visit my sweet little Charley Ellen. We had our usually fun time of dancing, playing, reading, etc. When it was time for me to leave, I kissed Charley & said, “Good-bye.” She said, “Bye, Gaga.” I replied, “I love you. Can you say ‘I love you’?” She smiled at me & quietly said, “I love you.” Talk about melting my heart! Hearing her say those three little words was incredible! I couldn't stop grinning until I was halfway home.

Charley’s daddy, (my son, Darrin) had been in Germany on business for 9 days. He was flying into San Francisco arriving at 7:40 PM on Tuesday evening. He had emailed me from the airport in Hamburg, Germany, that morning. I replied telling him to call me on his trip home & we could chat for a bit. They live about 140 miles from SFO so he was looking at a 2-1/2 hour drive home. After a long transcontinental flight, I knew a little distraction would be welcome.

Darrin & I are great friends. We are never at a loss for something to talk about. Since he was a teen-ager we've had a tradition of sharing 2-3 hour fast food lunches (usually at Taco Bell or McDonalds) where we converse nonstop. One of the greatest joys of my life is having such a wonderful relationship with my son. Now that he is a husband & parent our lunches aren't as frequent but we still make time to get together every few months, just the two of us.

About an hour after his plane landed, I received a text saying he was in the shuttle to pick up his car after retrieving his luggage & clearing customs. About 9:15 PM my cell phone rang. It was Darrin!

He was excited & eager to tell me all about his trip. Even though he’d been traveling for close to 24 hours with airport wait times & connections, he sounded awake & alert for his long drive home. I listened to every detail of his trip which included a couple extra days to sightsee & explore Hamburg on his own. As long as he wanted to talk I was more than willing to listen. He told me he was armed with a Monster energy drink & a Snickers bar if he started getting sleepy.

BUT we talked for TWO HOURS so neither was needed! I could feel my own exhilaration knowing my son still enjoys my company & knowing that I helped end his long trip on a high note as he talked a mile a minute. Sure there were a couple of dropped calls & several times when the reception cut in & out but we just called back & kept on talking.

I know from my drives to their house that just past Auburn, the cell phone service goes away. When he told me at 11:20 PM that he saw the Auburn, 2 miles, sign I knew we only had a few minutes left. But by then he was less than 10 minutes from home. For the second time that day, I sat there for a long time with a smile on my face after we signed off.

Any day that I can begin with a visit to my adorable granddaughter who tells me she loves me for the first time & ends with a two hour conversation with my wonderful son on a long drive late at night (who also tells me he loves me) is a great day in Gaga Land for sure!

That newspaper column ended with this statement: “Every now and then, we should all try to give in to our moments of pure love and happiness.” This is me, again – I most definitely second that emotion! That's exactly what I did & it doesn't get any better than this!