Christmas 2017

Christmas 2017

During Advent we look ahead in expectation for the Child to be born. And so it is with Brian and me as we eagerly anticipate our first grandchild at the end of this month.

Stefan and Leta, 27, are expecting a son on Dec. 29. These two are way more prepared for a first infant than Brian and I ever were. They already have prepared and frozen a month’s worth of meals. Although Leta could not hunt with Stefan this year, she single-handedly butchered the two deer he brought home. Brian was along to witness the one-in-million shot Stefan took to bring down one of the deer. Both were standing by the back gate of Stefan’s truck when three doe tore past through the meadow in front of them. Stefan put down his sandwich, ran 10 feet, grabbed his rifle, popped the scope cap and the safety, sited the doe and dropped her with one shot. Total time elapsed: 4 seconds. “I felt so old and inadequate,” Brian said.

Nevertheless, Brian and I are too young and hip to be grandparents. Well ok, I can only speak for myself.  But to be honest, I must accept and embrace what I now call my “grandma brain.” Perhaps this term does a disservice to every grandma who knows what the heck she was thinking when she finds herself walking into the kitchen with an armload of newspapers, dirty socks and a cell phone. On the one hand, I amaze myself by remembering a million lyrics, including every verse of “King of the Road.”  But I will never know every engineer on every train, all of their children and all of their names—even if they live on our street.

Brian, for his part, is now rip-roarin’ ready to be a grandpa with his new artificial C6/C7 neck disc. Carrying around a large Jaye head for decades finally took its toll last fall as he hauled a deer out of the woods while hunting. A herniated disc in his neck crunched a nerve and sent a firestorm down his shoulder and arm. After seven months of bouncing around the healthcare system barely able to walk, sit, stand or drive, he experienced miracle surgery at the U in June. See his blog for the blow by blow account at bajaye.wordpress.com. He can now compare his medical procedure with grandpas and grandpa wannabes. A friend summed it up best: Brian has gone from having a pain in the neck back to being one. A lovable pain in the neck.

But enough about our aging processes. Andrew, 28, began a new assignment last March as investigator with the Champlin PD. He enjoys tracking down thieves, child abusers and other ne’re-do-wells. And finding he’s not half-bad at it. Andrew gratified us over Labor Day by joining Brian and me on a visit with friends in the Bay area. He blew away two of my former college roommates and their husbands with the sweetest thank you notes. One friend remarked that she would like to hire Andrew to give “fine young man” lessons to her nephews. A mom’s gotta love that.

Alex, 24, has found the love of his life—a Lab/ Border Collie puppy he named Zoe. Alex and Zoe live in Fargo where Alex is finishing up his second semester at NDSU. He resumed his college career after completing his 4-year enlistment in the Marines last December. In his first post-military year, Alex has made significant progress at “adulting.” Most telling perhaps is his Christmas list featuring a number of razzle-dazzle glow-in-the-dark entertainment and equipment items for Zoe—and nothing for himself. Except, a lint brush (Zoe sheds, don’t cha know). Never in my most austere moment have I requested as a gift a non-electric cleaning implement.

Which reminds me… Two hours of pushin’ broom buys a…eight by twelve, four bit room.   Do I still have it, or what??

During this Advent, we thank God for the gift of His Son, and our first grandson. We look back in gratitude and ahead for all that the New Year will bring.             

Brenda & Brian