What Is It About Anticipation?

Will she remember that we happily danced to a Doobie Brothers song? Probably not. The details of our early Saturday morning dance party will fade but our bond, forever. Time together, precious. Fleeting. She changes daily. Wanting to hold on to each extraordinary moment. Each expression. My first grandchild…

My daughter and son-in-law’s living room transformed into a dance hall. A plush familiar rug comforts my bare feet. Small but ample space. Music filled the air. The upbeat tempo of “Takin it to the Streets” played on Pandora. I never considered myself much of a Doobie Brothers fan but this gospel sounding song made me a believer. My granddaughter’s nine-month-old smile melted my heart. Her eyes sparkled. We were elated. The Doobie Brothers may not be Baby Shark, but she was all in…as was I.

Dance moves with a modicum of rhythm. Singing for her ears only. She road on my aging hip as we swirled and danced. The same hip that had supported her mother 30 plus years before. We laughed as we freely moved around the room. She waited. Anticipated each next step. A sway to the music unexpectedly interrupted by a quick jump sent giggles throughout the warm air. An abrupt change in direction thrilled her. The element of surprise delighted her. An adventurous heart much like her parents was forming…

The smiles. The giggles. The sweetness, the love and the trust…

“Perfect happiness is a beautiful sunset, the giggle of a grandchild, the first snowfall. It’s the little things that make happy moments, not the grand events. Joy comes in sips, not gulps.” Sharon Draper