Page 54 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2018- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

“Dearest Harper . . .

Love, Grammar”

A Grandparenting Idea

BY MARILYN GARRETT

Harper has been a surprise imagination with images of a race story. There were letters about how
grandbaby, arriving when I am car driver; a dad who made up musical her family is and all the
in my late 60’s. She’s a one and stories for his little girl about an exciting plans they have for her.
only for my surgeon-daughter – imaginary, life-like aardvark; a man Older, step-brothers play the cello
and she is one more chance for who loved mechanics and singing and the viola, so she is destined for
me to be a grandmother. The role and travel and the Lord. The letter the violin!
of grandmother is very special arrived with a little stuffed aardvark
and influential. It is a time when with a big pink bow. That was followed by a gift of
one may have more time to pour 3 books – one on words, one on
into a child – and more patience numbers, and one on science
and wisdom. But when Harper (I guess worms are considered
was born, I was more aware than science) – and I told her all about
ever that time is truly fleeting, her grandmother being a teacher
and I surely could not necessarily and that she would learn so many
count on being with her into her things, that her curriculum would
adulthood. I promptly retired! be so varied, the world so big and
amazing.
I am, by nature and career, a teacher
and a writer. So, even before Harper Next was the letter describing her Then there was the Tea Party book,
was born, I launched into my new birth – and all the excitement in and a description of my childhood
relationship with her . . . via letters. our family. I told her all about her and having tea parties. I still
On paper encircled with red roses, family members and how perfectly have the tea set that belonged to
I began, “Dearest Harper . . . “. she would complete our clan. And, my mother – a thick, dark, shiny
Thus began a series – all the things of course, she got a letter entitled magenta set that Harper will inherit
I would want to say to her should “What’s in a Name?” I wanted to one day.
I not be here later. It would be a describe to her how significant her
legacy encircled with the red roses name is and why her mommy and There was the Mother Goose letter
of love. daddy chose it. It arrived with a – all about poetry and verse and
tiny gold box in the shape of a harp. memorization and . . . the travel
I began the story by telling her about letter about “Oh, the Places You Will
her granddad – my late husband Her first “holiday” was Valentine’s Go!” Of course, those arrived with
and the one grandparent she would Day, so I wanted her to know the appropriate books also.
never meet. I tried to fill her future all about her grandparents’ love

54 Lubbock Senior Link