Fall was finally here. The weather turning cool but not yet frigid the afternoon warm but not sweltering. The hunting seasons beginning to open. The long-awaited morning was here.
My alarm jolted me out of my hunting dreams at 4:45 my schedule was set and I refused to get off on the wrong foot. Out the front door and to the shed. The fall breeze was awesome hitting me in my face making as I strolled with energy in my step, a west wind, I noted out of habit. Every morning I walk to the shed I take the 30 second weather analysis on my 15 step, wind , temperature, cloud cover–overcast or clear, is the morning sun sneaking out or the moon sliding away and how it will affect my plans.
Today weather was perfect, no rain which was not a surprise we were experiencing a long dry spell, the fields and woods were brittle and crunchy. The farmers were long past hoping for moisture to improve their yields and embraced the dry weather and started to prepare for harvesting. Many already starting weeks ahead of schedule.
My drive to destination was short and uneventful, I was on schedule. Pulling into my parking area, I quietly exited my truck and took my pack and walked briskly and stealthily to my destination. All good, everything in place. It was eerily quiet this early not a sound, nothing. I have sat at this location multiple times and it was never, ever this quiet. I was comfortable and ready, it was going to be a big day, and I was excited to get it started. But first the wait, you always had the wait, the wait was part of the action, part of the rush, the anticipation that made all the planning and preparation valid and rewarding. It was so peaceful my eyes begged for a few more minutes of dark and rest. I fought the urge to steal drift off steal a nap, no way, too much was riding on this to miss something because I was napping.
Then I heard it, a soft step, movement from just ahead of me. Just where I expected but about 15 minutes earlier than I thought. All good, I was ready. I could feel the adrenalin push through my veins. Here we go. Game on! I was ready!
I heard more rustling, not very far off from where I was sitting. I could feel a smile sneak onto my face and my eyes focus on the direction of the noise and movement.
Then she stepped out! Wow! What a beautiful sight. I was ready and smiling and stood up. Her eyes caught my movement, and she bolted with 4 quick steps she was coming straight at me! I braced for impact as she jumped into my arms. PAPA! She excitedly whispered with a big hug. Good morning sweetheart I whispered back. You got up early. I did not hear your alarm go off. “Yes, I was excited” she said, “Sometimes I wake up before my alarm.” I let her know her mom and dad and her youngest sister were on their way to the doctor and everything was going as planned and her little sister Cami would do great and be ok. She was having a minor surgery and had to be at the hospital before school opened. The granddaughters Cece (8) and Lily (4 ) were concerned but prepared for the morning. They knew I was going to be the one to get them going in the morning. Sheila was of course the valid and rightful first choice, go with a pro when you can, but she was at work and unable to drop her trip to cover the morning adventure. I said YES I COULD DO IT before the question was even completely out of her mouth.
Cece was already dressed and went to the bathroom brushed her teeth and did her morning routine before her alarm finally went off. We were ahead of schedule. She cuddled up to me on the couch, and I asked her if she heard Lily move yet. She said no. I said lets go get her up and we walked quietly to her room and gently opened the door. The night light sent soft glow across her bed and I panicked. It was empty. Cece stood beside me looking. She saw the concern on my face. I stepped closer to her bed the covers were in a bunch, a big open space in the middle no Lily. Cece knelt on to her bed and gently pushed the covers on the far side of the bed. A wiggle and a perfectly camouflaged Lily’s eyes opened, she sat up looked at me and sprung up with a big embrace and said PAPA!
I said Lily you scared me I did not see you right away. Your pajamas mixed right in with the pattern of your blankets. She giggled and said “Silly Papa” Note to self– I am going get her some blaze orange pajamas for Christmas. I am not sure my heart can take a scare like that again.
She smiled and said as she walked over to her clothes already set out on the floor. Papa, I am going to get dressed now you can go out. I obeyed the confident 4-year-old and waited patiently for her arrival. A few minutes later she appeared perfectly dressed, her teeth brushed and ready to greet me.
Cece then went over to a drawer grabbed her hair brush walked over to me handed me the brush and backed up to me. What a rush of memories. Her Mom would do the exact same thing. I gently brushed her long beautiful auburn hair. She said “ It gets snarly Papa but I am used to it”. I said I will be careful. I did this for your Mom a million times when “MiMi”(Sheila) was flying when I was lucky enough to get her ready for school.
No ponies for Cece, her long hair was shining and smooth and ready for school. Lily grabbed the brush I set it next to me and backed into position and it was game on for the white haired young lady. Her hair was not nearly as long, and we decided she needed a pony tail and she agreed. I started with a far back pony and Cece said “Mom usually puts the pony higher on her head”. I said lets go with a lower one today for fun. They agreed and with a little help from Cece we completed the task. My goal was to still have the pony in place by the time she got to 4K. All good I snapped a few trophy photos, and we went to the table and read the notes together.
Emily the young ladies Mom and our daughter if you have not figured out already is hyper organized specially when she found out Dad was covering for Mom this morning. The list was complete with check boxes and separate lists for Cece and Lily.
Departure time noted, we were ahead of schedule. A rare occurrence in my world. We grabbed the prepacked back packs and headed to my truck for the adventure to town and school. We pulled into the local convenience store and we all went in.
As we walked in, I saw a little girl standing in line her eyes flashed wide open and big smile“ Hi CECE!” the two girls giggled and chatted, and it was fun to see she had friends that were fond of her and excited to see her even though they would be a few feet apart at desks in less than 30 minutes.
I led my troop to the warm display case and said girls get what every you want this is how Papa gets breakfast.
The girls knew exactly what they wanted, The store had a wonderful display of breakfast sandwiches. I stood back and let them pick. It was fun to watch them look things over and decide. Cece grabbed a Cheeseburger and Lily grabbed some macaroni and cheese. …… I said anything they wanted. I asked them do you want a breakfast burrito or waffle instead? Both said no we want this. I said ok. I smiled and thought I love their confidence in what they want. The next step was the doughnut aisle. They both picked out their favorite and then to the cooler for orange juice and chocolate milk. I proudly checked out and we walked to the truck and had our breakfast feast in the parking lot. We chatted and laughed, giggled and told stories as I saw the girls enjoy their breakfast.
I looked at the clock on the dash and said girls time to get you to school. Cece gave me directions on how to correctly drive to the drop off area. She is so her mother. Smooth sailing. The drop off area navigated Cece scoped the playground for friends spotted them and said there they are. She said bye Papa and hopped out of the truck and ran off to her friends backpack in tow and 50 percent of my parcels delivered and we drove Lily off to 4k.
I walked Lily to the door and even remembered the passcode from the note. Lily confidently guided me to her room and told me where her cousins’ rooms were as we passed their doors. We walked into her room, and she showed me where she hangs up her coat and back pack. She looked back at me and I picked her up and gave her a hug. From across the room a little boy yelled “LILY BUG, LILY BUG you’re here!” and came running over to greet her. Lily smiled and another little girl with beautiful white hair just like Lily came over to her grinned and giggled and the two of them chatted and smiled and walked away together.
I went back to my truck investigated the back seat to make sure nothing was left behind. All clear. The aftermath of the breakfast feast was spread out through the back seat, reminding me of the Mini van we had when our kids were that age. I was confident we could have survived being stranded in a three-day blizzard living on lost French fries and snacks. My back seat looked like a start to a stash for a three-day blizzard it made me laugh a little.
Mission accomplished. What a morning! What a perfectly wonderful morning. The memories of getting Emily, Abbey and Alex ready for school when Sheila was flying and I was solo brought a smile to my face and a warmth to my chest. What a gift our children and grandchildren are. When you are going through the day to day exercise of getting your children off to school you do not realize how special it is until you are gifted with a bonus opportunity to revisit the task. Cami’s procedure went as planned and it all wrapped up to a perfect morning. Thank You for letting me be part of their morning.