My Baby's Baby

I was thrilled when my daughter told us that she wouldn’t be home for Christmas this year. Thrilled because the reason she can’t travel is the arrival of our first grandchild! Yes, my baby is having a baby. When I heard my daughter tell us that our special gift was due to arrive on December 20th, I was elated. We talked, we planned, and we giggled. After we hung up the phone, it hit me.

Where has all that time gone? Has it really been more than twenty-eight years since I felt those flitters and movements that told me I soon would be joining the motherhood club? It doesn’t seem quite possible.

I get lost thinking about the little blonde girl who would squeeze my hand as she toddled her first steps, and her huge grin when she was finally able to let go. All of those nights that we cuddled up to read a good book keep flooding my mind. I remember the teething and the sleepless nights, the toothless grins and the squeals of laughter.

It was over twenty-eight years ago when the doctor announced that we had a little girl. My husband and I held each other, and then came that moment that forever changed my life. The nurses handed me that little bundle, and I looked down at my daughter for the very first time. More than twenty-eight years. It seems impossible.

Her first ride on a bicycle, the first day of school. I see all of those peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that I packed in lunches. The school field trips, the loose teeth, and yes, the broken bones. Memories of school plays and concerts, birthday parties and sleepovers.

Then there was high school. The first date. Those first times that she drove solo in the car were filled with anxiety and fear. Graduation with all of its excitement, and then that drive to drop her off at college. It all went so fast. It seems like just a blink.

Then I think of what joy being a parent has brought to my life. It’s something that I’ve wanted for her since that day her father walked her down the aisle. My baby’s going to have a baby, and the joy of parenthood is soon to fill her life. How lucky for me that my life will also be filled with the joy of watching my beautiful daughter grow into her new role as Mommy. It truly is the circle of life.

A Teacher and A Friend

Teachers and other faculty members roam our schools every day. As students, we might not encounter each of them in the classroom, and yet they can still have a tremendous influence on us.

One such teacher at Westminster High School in the late 70’s was Marilou Grout, or ML as she was often called. Mrs. Grout was never my classroom teacher. She came to the school my junior or senior year, but she did manage to become a very respected friend. Mrs. Grout was the advisor for the Speech and Debate club. Since I was hoping to go to law school, I thought some practice with this club might be beneficial for me, so I signed up to join.

ML was a great coach! She took us on adventures to competitions. She coached us, she taught us, and she loved us. ML was also a great cheerleader. And we wanted to win…for her. I spent my senior year of high school as a very proud member of the Speech and Debate club.

Well, ML was also an actress and a director. She invited me to audition for a show that she was directing called Dark of the Moon. She convinced me that it would be fun and that it was a really good show. So, I agreed. And she cast me in the female lead!

It was great fun working with her and the other cast members that summer. I learned things about myself that I never imagined. ML was a great director. She was energetic, enthusiastic and extremely patient. The show went extremely well, and not long after the production closed, I was on my way to my freshman year of college.

ML and I kept in close contact during my college years. In fact, she submitted my name to be a judge at a Speech and Debate competition in Wisconsin. At that time, my younger sister was on the team, so we all set out for a trip to Milwaukee for the tournament. I was so proud that ML had enough confidence in me to judge. It was a great trip, and we became even better friends.

Now, ML was married to a particular Groutie, Phil Grout, a photographer. Phil was an amazing photographer, and so in my last year of college, I asked Phil a very special favor-to be the photographer at my wedding. I felt so close to the two of them, and it meant so much to me that he was there.

After the wedding, we left Maryland because of my husband’s service in the Navy. I lost contact with the Grouts. There was an occasional word from my parents or friends that they had seen them at the mall or at the Fair. ML called once after she left teaching, but there wasn’t any real contact until Facebook. I found ML and Groutie on Facebook! We’re back in touch and planning to meet up for lunch or dinner.

I had never had a teacher become a close friend. And when I did, I realized that teachers are human! And they’re really nice humans! Nice humans who dedicate their lives to the education of young people. I am truly grateful to my teachers for their time, their dedication…and yes, their friendship!