A recent summer stay-cation in Baton Rouge with a wonderful visit by our daughter, son-in-law and grandson from Kansas!
Pic: John catching his first fish, a bream, at Santa Maria.
“Grandpa, can we go swimming early tomorrow?” asked John, our 7 y/o grandson on his recent visit to us with our daughter, Maria-Therese, and son-in-law, Chris, from Kansas.
“Well,” I replied, “sure let's make it a secret plan – like your Spider Man hero likes to do in his adventures!”
“Okay, Gramps; let's do it!” John burst out.
We were all sitting in our den area that evening, and John was sitting on my lap as I was on my Lazy Boy Chair.
I made sure to whisper quietly into John's ear as Chris was nearby yacking away with Maria, my wife, about the great fun we all had earlier that day at Audubon Zoo, that included trekking up and down “Monkey Hill” - reportedly the highest point in N'Awlins – where I used to ride on with my “Banana Bike” as a native 'Yat kid!
“Early tomorrow,” I carefully told John, “we'll pretend to just be playing some more ball outside and sneak around to the back while everyone else is eating breakfast, okay?”
“Yep,” John whispered – “we'll have as much fun, Gramps, as yesterday!”
John had caught his first fish ever the day before with me at a Santa Maria pond – some bream and a bass – with a Spider Man fishing pole that I had gotten him; he even got to practice reeling with it in our pool with the little plastic red fish that comes with the set!
The next day, John got up extra early on his own and came inside our house, as they were staying in our Cabana.
After a little fun and a different kind of breakfast treat for John, everyone else got ready for breakfast. We proceeded with our plan and went outside as if to play ball and sneaked around to the Cabana bathroom to change – we had earlier hidden our swim suits there.
John then trotted onto the diving board with his floaters on and said to me, “Grampie, what jump do you want me to do for you, as we surprise Dad that we're swimming this early – cannonball or karate kid?”
“Spider Man!” I blurted out, “and definitely not 'My Little Pony!'” - the latter referred to an inside joke between John and his dad, as both detested that girly type toy and usually sang about it!
When Chris came outside after hearing us, he smiled from ear to ear and chuckled as John and I sang, “Ha, Ha, Ha - Not My Little Pony!” and John continued, “and grandpa treated me for breakfast with cheesy macaroni!
Keith John Paul Horcasitas, 1133 Knollhaven Drive, BRLA 70810, khorcasitas.yahoo.com, July 27, 2014.
This is not a drill. The attack on Pearl. They were the ghost planes of the night, deadly, illusive, sharp-clawed Black Cats. The Memoirs of ARM H.P. Lawrence, a Pearl Harbor survivor, Black Cat, and decorated war veteran.
“Grandpa, can we go swimming early tomorrow?” asked John, our 7 y/o grandson on his recent visit to us with our daughter, Maria-Therese, and son-in-law, Chris, from Kansas.
