"Mom,Dad is on the phone!"Six words that came from my daughter,Jane,who is at the living room,as she shouted that to me.I just sat on my rocking chair here in my bedroom,facing the window of my room,gazing over at the people preparing for the winter season,or rather,the holiday season.I just sat here,very calm and relaxed as I look at the window.I just sat here like I don't have a single care with the world.I just sat here like an old granny-which is I really am.This age of mine is an age where all the things you want to do have limits already,unlike the teenage stage.At this age of mine,all I could do is to look at the kids play snowball fights and adults decorate their houses outside.I want to play with the kids and help the adults in decorating,but it seems like I don't have enough energy to do it anymore.And,besides,I can't stay out in the cold for long because something bad might happen to me.That's why I have this green,comfy sweater to protect me from the cold.This was also the same sweater my husband,Leo,gave to me while we were walking down the sidewalks of Peppermint Street when we were still at the age of 27.I never expected this sweater to fit me after a very long time.Ahh,what a wonderful memory it was!He's so sweet,even in little and possible ways.I remember that time when we were sitting on the bench of Willow Park on a winter night,on the same date as today,which is the 24th of December.We were looking at the kids,skating on the frozen duck pond while drinking our hot coffee that we bought in a nearby coffee shop.The kids were having fun.They were laughing,giggling and chasing each other as they skate.It's like they don't have a single care in the world,like they just wanna have fun,like what kids usually do.Looking at them made me envy them and it made me wonder at the same time.I was silent and was in a deep thinking that I didn't notice Leo talking to me.I just noticed him when he snapped his fingers in front of me.I was surprised and looked at him in alert.He looked at me too with those light blue eyes of his.Then he asked me,"Are you okay?"I,then,answered."Yes...Yes,I'm fine!Why'd you ask?"He didn't bother to answer me but,instead,he looked at my body.He looked at how I was shivering a little,which is true.The coat I'm wearing isn't that thick enough to protect me from the cold.And the coffee I'm drinking can't satisfy the warmth I'm needing.Then he turned to his bag on his side and said to me,"Wait a minute."Not long,he took out a box and gave it to me.He instructed me to open it.But,before I opened it,I told him,"But,Leo,it's not even Christmas yet!"He said in reply,"I know,but this might help you right now."So,I opened the box and was surprised to see a green sweater inside.I took it out and thanked him."Aww...Thanks Leo!You shouldn't have!"He said in reply,"It's nothing!You really need that right now!"I smiled back to him and removed my coat and hurriedly tried on my new green sweater.It was more thicker than the coat I was wearing a while ago.I know sweaters aren't meant to be thick or they're not really thick,but this one is different.It's soft,comfy and can satisfy the warmth I'm needing.
After testing it out,I hugged him and thanked him once more.
Ahh...memories...I've been keeping this sweater for a long time now,because I might need it when I'm out in the cold,or maybe if I'm just feeling cold.Besides that,I've been keeping this as a remembrance from my husband on how we met.
As I continue on remembering me and my husband's sweet past,the doorbell suddenly rang."Ding dong!Ding dong!"I was about to stand from my rocking chair and get the door when I suddenly heard my two grandsons,Jane's sons,Mark and Matthew,race towards the door.I can both hear them racing towards the door,shouting."I'll get it!I'll get it!",said Mark to his brother."Not if I get there first!",Matthew said in reply.Mark is a year older than his brother,Matthew.Mark is eight years old while Matthew is seven.They often create troubles that make their Mom and Dad,Jane and her husband,Gilbert,mad at them.The both of them are a perfect pair-a perfect pair of pranksters and troublemakers.They're the only children of Jane and Gilbert.They've always wanted to bore a baby girl but,unfortunately,things went a little "topsy-turvy".Destiny can be playful at times.
I didn't bother on returning to my rocking chair and decided to go out of my room and see the visitor.
As I opened my bedroom door,it was also the exact time my two grandsons opened the front door.I exited my room and saw who the visitor was.It was Julie,one of my daughters,Jane's older sister,and my two grandsons' aunt.She's with her husband,Rick.
"Aunt Julie!Aunt Julie!",my two grandsons cried out in cheer and hugged their aunt tight."Woah!Yes,I'm here!And I've got you two some presents!",she replied to them as she handed the two paper bags to her two nephews.The two excitedly got their presents out of the paper bags.It was a pair of skates-ice skates,to be exact.The two kids were confused with their presents that they looked at each other and at their aunt."What?Aren't you happy with your gifts?",Julie asked her nephews."We're very happy with your gifts,Aunt Julie!We really are!",said Mark to her aunt."...but,what are we going to do with these?I mean,there is no skating rink here in the neighborhood.",asked Matthew to his aunt.Julie just laughed at her two nephews and said in reply,"That's why your Uncle Rick and I are taking you to Willow Park to skate!Does that sound great?""YES!YES IT IS!YAYYY!!!",the two kids answered as they danced around in joy while Julie and Rick laugh at their silly dance.I can't help it too and began to laugh at my two grandsons' dance.After laughing,Julie noticed me and asked me,"Would you like to come,Mom?"The two kids stopped on dancing and turned to me.Then they rushed to me and hugged me.After hugging me so tight,they insisted me to come."Please come with us,Granny!Pleaseee!",they both knelt and went on a pleading figure and insisted me on coming with them.They were both acting like they were cute puppies with those cute,little puppy eyes.Then I answered them,"I can't skate!I'm already old!But,I can still come with you and watch you skate instead!""YAYYY!GRANNY IS COMING!GRANNY IS COMING!!!",they,once again,danced in cheer and,once again,we laughed at their hilarious dance.
After laughing over the kids hilarious dance,Julie asked me,"So,are we good to go?""Wait!I'll just get my purse!Have you brought your car?",I answered and asked."Yup!We did,Mom!",Julie replied."Great!Wait a minute!",I said to them as I returned to my room to get my purse.
After getting my purse,I exited my room and saw Jane and Julie talking at the front door.I approached them and they,suddenly,stopped talking.Jane,suddenly,said,"Julie told me that you,she,Rick and the two kids are going to Willow Park.""Yup!The two kids insisted me to come with them and I have no choice!",I answered."Well,at least you can have some quality time with your grandsons!",Jane said."Yeah!Do you wanna come with us?",I asked."Oh,no thanks!I have a lot of work to do!And,besides,I still need to cook for tonight's feast!",she replied."Well,if you insist!We'll be going,then!",I said."Okay!Boys,don't be hard-headed to Granny,okay?",she asked his two sons."Yes,Mom!",the two kids replied.
And we left the house and got in the car and drove off to Willow Park.
