A Christmas Story.........
Her eyes lit
up when she spied something new in grandmee’s front window….little dolls and
animals, a barn and elaborate fence that stretched the width of the window’s
bay…
It was my
grandma Gerner’s nativity set that I bought at their garage sale. She probably bought it at a “5 and dime” in
the 40’s or 50’s…all the characters marked with the word, “Italia”….all of
sentimental rather than cash value to me.
Yet, I had
no problem with my beautiful 2-year old granddaughter handling it….she lovingly
picked up each character and spent a lot of time that morning babbling away as
she played with her new attraction. I
introduced her to the cast, however, she knew “baby” without any help from me.
(she was expecting a new baby brother very soon) Baby Jesus had to follow her as she finished
her car made of blocks, up to the bedroom for a diaper change and even went for
a ride with her on “the wonder horse”, ( a spring horse used by her dad and
aunt T).
At lunch she
climbed in her highchair, as I tied her bib….lunch that day was the usual
yogurt, along with bits of sausage, grapes and orange sections. I had moved my bills to the island to work on
them, while Bryn ate with a “Dora” episode playing in the backround….there’s
many ways to eat yogurt when you’re two….a spoon, your fingers, as a dip for
your grapes and oranges…I dipped my graham cracker (that was pretty good,
too)…..geez, I really need glasses…..Bryn was following my dipping lead, when I
squinted to see what fruit she was dipping….oh, JMJ, she was dipping the Baby
Jesus….down and slowly up as she watched the yogurt drip off the little guy….I
hugged her tightly and said I didn’t think the baby had ever been so clean….
