My Grandma and Grandpa used to live in a yellow farm house in small-town Saskatchewan and it had a tire swing in the gully, a big rock we’d have picnics on, and a massive ant hill down the dirt road that we would poke with sticks. Grandma always had fresh homemade perigees and raspberry freezer jam and a package of Wrigley’s Spearmint gum tucked into the drawer next to the silverware. Grandpa would sit in his recliner and let us pinch the crepey skin on the back of his hands and we’d count how many seconds it would stand up for. Downstairs there was an organ I would play Christmas carols on, a stuffed fish mounted on the wall, and a huge, yellow inflatable ball from the gas station that Grandma would bounce us around on. I loved visiting the farm.

They sold the last of their land years ago and moved into town and just recently have moved into a condo in the big city to be close to relatives. This week we all drove up for a visit and they let our crazy kids do flips all over their living room and crack their heads on the corner of the coffee table and Grandma just laughed and smiled and then gave them each a $20 and a box of chocolates. We had hamburgers for lunch and posed for a bunch of photos with the wild kids flitting about and as we packed up to say good-bye she hugged me and said, “You are doing such a good job with them. We are so proud of you.”

Thanks, GG and BB! We love you!