Fire

Seriously Grandma.

I walk upstairs on my day off to perform my typical day off duties- make coffee, fix Grandma's breakfast, and try to keep her from watching TV ALL day long. This has been especially difficult of late as the Inauguration festivities have had her obsessing about the dress of the first family as well as what they will eat. "Oh, Ikey, I think you should wear something like what Biden has on!"- she says. I just sneak downstairs to go watch last night's rerun of the Daily Show. Then I hear her yell, "IIIIIKe!" She wants me to check on the fire.

So I check on the damn fire- knowing full well that when Grandpa and I are away she manages just fine. I see that Grandpa has again failed to build up a nice bed of coals and so there are two large smoldering logs just smoking. Perfect. So I open everything up to keep the draft pulling the smoke up the chimney and I quickly put some small sticks on the few tiny coals and leave the door open a crack to give it extra air. Of course, and I knew it was coming, now Grandma's favorite daytime live melodrama has just begun: Smoke in the Livingroom. She plays the part of the neurotic Grandmother and screams her line: "Oh, oh, oh, it's smoking!!!!!"

Me: Grandma, if you want me to fix the fire than you need to let ME fix the fire.

Grandma: Well.

Me: Grandma, I really am not in the mood for this whole thing again.

Grandma: I know you don't want smoke in the living room, but I just think if-

Me: Grandma- if you know how to best take care of the fire, then you should.

Luck for me, this particular run in ended here. It really is sad the condition she's in. That is, she's capable of much more than she does for herself. But, she's so tired and feels so sluggish that she just tells Grandpa to do it (me when he's not available). Half the time I just want to yell at her and tell her to do it herself. Weird.

But the real truth is that my time here continues to make it clearer and clearer just how much of a gift being here is. Yesterday morning, Granny and I both slept in. I was in the kitchen making coffee when I see her doing what for her is the equivalent of sprinting to the living room. I'm like, "What the hell!?" I ask her what she's doing and she says that she's pretty sure the Inauguration was starting. Naturally, I had completely zoned that it would be in the morning our time. Not Grandma. She was front row on the couch and looking about as excited as I can remember seeing her. We drank coffee together and shared a moment that I know I will remember for the rest of my life. Watching our first black president sworn in with my 78 year-old Grandma was profound. It was particularly touching to see how engaged in the ceremony she was. She didn't even vote for Barack. And yet she couldn't help but be affected by the momentous event. We watched from the very beginning as Bush and Cheney (how hilarious was he in his wheelchair!?) walked down the corridor, to Pastor Lowry's Benediction (how hilarious was he!). I enjoyed watching Grandma and her reactions to the proceedings. There was a real sense for me that this would be the last President she would ever see. And while I'm sure I'll never know why she voted for McCain (getting her to talk openly about anything other than food and Oprah is like trying to plan a menu with Grandpa), I'd like to think that she's wise enough to recognize that sometimes change for the better comes for us despite our resistance. Sometimes.

Anyhow, I'm getting ready for these Grad school interviews and starting to realize just how critical it has been for me to have Moscow be my home base during this exciting and turbulent time. As much as I like to complain about the bizarreness of my Grandparents, they have been like Guardian Angels to me. They've sheltered, fed, and help me transport myself all over the country in pursuit of my big dream. I am getting teary just writing all this. I think part of it is that I see how easy it has been for me to be discontent with whatever my circumstances are currently. For those of you who've known me, you know that I'm real grass-is-greener kinda guy; always looking for the next thing. And I am seeing how the joy I experience in my day to day life is in perfect proportion to how much intention I put in to noticing all of the good that is in my life right now. Now I might be heading down the Hallmark Card/Dr. Phil road to cheesy axioms here, but I really do see how when I slow things down just a bit, look at what I have in my life, I can't help but feel blessed. And specifically, with regard to my Grandparents, I see how much they have given to me.

So tonight, my last full night here in Moscow before starting my Grad school interviews, I'm cooking up a nice dinner to honor my Grandparents. Phil's chicken recipe, steamed brussel sprouts (or asparagus), and apple crisp for dessert- I'm even gonna pick up some Sparkling Cider and break out the crystal- were gonna do it up. Break out the scrabble and have a rip roarin good time.