Grandson Triston Visits – Lady Bug – July 15th.
Hello All,
Triston Bartlett, our grandson, arrived in a flurry of smoke & flames in July. He flew into Phoenix from Seattle and the roadside on the way up from Phoenix on the shuttle was literally ablaze in flames and smoke. He sat for four hours in the hot van after the long trip by jet, then arrived famished and thirsty. A quick trip to the Red Robin, and one humugo-hamburger, eight cheese sticks, and a ton of fries, along with two huge drinks, and he was able to smile again. Doesn’t take much does it? He seventeen-years-old and the kind of kid that never meets a stranger . . . no matter where he goes. He knew everyone on the shuttle along with their families and their sites of destination. He had more than a few business cards in his wallet. He’s very friendly and outgoing, funny and endearing. Gramps was playing golf when I left to pick up Triston, so when we got back to our house Triston was still brimming with enthusiasm and Gramps was pooped. Time for a movie and downtime, or . . . more food maybe? He settled for the combination, and he and Gramps began their bonding time with one another right off the bat.
I, on the other hand, was in the middle of transferring the Proposal and all the extra materials for the Land Of I into the Chinese language, and was really preoccupied. (That’s another story for later.) Danny took over the Triston visit time. The two guys went to the Grand Canyon together, Sedona, Jerome, the ruins of Montezuma’s Well and the cliff dwellings, etc . . . They went out to breakfast every morning at a different small restaurant that cooks up chicken fried steak with gravy and eggs. In the interim times, I took him shopping for food and clothing. He shops like I do. “In and out.” He knows what he wants. Speaking of “in and out”, I introduced him to the “In & Out Burger” and he is a convert to their hamburgers now.
In other words, we kept him racing around like a nut on wheels for a week. He drove our vehicles and golf cart the whole time he was here, as we found out that Washington drivers’ permits were good in Arizona. YES! He a great little driver though, and to tell the truth, I like it when someone else drive me around.
Danny and I experienced a void in our tummies and hearts when he left. He was a fun person to spend time with, and soooo loveable. No grumps from Gramps were allowed, as he’d throw his arms around his waist and give him a gigantic hug and say something sweet. Reminded me of his Dad’s personality when he was younger. Gary would run up to anyone who came to our door, and say in a husky voice, “Do you wanna hug maybe?” Gary’s still my “Huggy Bear”, but it’s sooo-cool coming from a handsome, big, strong kid of our son’s genetic makings and to see the personality passed on down.
Three days after Triston left, I was into my normal routine of answering business calls and updating projects on my computer in the morning. I noticed that Danny seemed anxious to talk to me, but I was finishing up my morning calls and he didn’t intrude. I could hear him pacing around the kitchen and living room, up and down the hall, looking into my office. I asked him a few times, “Need anything, Hon?” “Nope,” he’d respond with a weird grin on his face. Weird behavior!
Finally, I was done, and went to the kitchen for coffee. He stood behind me looking out the window behind me. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore, and he drug me to the back door, and said, “Look!” At first I was confused. What am I looking for? The backyard looked the same. Then I saw it! A brand spanking newly painted and updated “Lady Bug” golf cart, all painted in a sleek burgundy red with black striping. I was shocked! When did he do all this? I flew down the steps and ran my fingers over the golf cart. It was a 2001 electric model that Danny had found and paid a designer to completely refurbish and remodel to look like a Lady Bug. The steering wheel and columns are all chrome and fake wood grained. The wheels are chromed. He had a big back carrier built on the back for Lady Bug and Cubby Bear to ride around proudly (which they do). I mean . . . it is the most special and shocking gift I have ever received. I burst out crying. I had told him months ago that I wanted my own golf cart, but I wanted it to be a Lady Bug design. He began working at finding just the right one that would match up to my dream description. He had it completely retooled and refit to meet all my specifications. My license plate says “Lady Bug 47” in bold black and red. (Figure out what the 47 means!) When I looked at Danny through my surprised and delighted tears, he told me that he and Triston had been checking on the “Lady Bug” every day, and Triston had kept the secret that it was almost done. Can you imagine, a seventeen-year-old keeping a secret? What a precious surprise. I took photos of the golf cart and sent it to him with me in it! He was sooo proud, but none sooo proud as me of my two secretive guys.
Until Later,
Jaye Bartlett