That Softness Gene

Y. & R. are visiting, my son and d-i-l, with the lovely HH, fondly called H-squared. HH is 16 mos. and as I watched her climb to get to a slide (with gusto) I thought to myself, well, she's got some of me in there somewhere, for sure.

I mentioned it to R. She laughed and said, "Have you seen her with clothes?"

So I wasn't so into clothes as a little kid. I preferred running around outside, which is a big HH thing, too.

Today I grabbed her early in the morning and we ran to the bank to make sure all kinds of checks wouldn't bounce. HH enjoyed the people at the bank and especially the shiny new tiles. She says Hi and ByeBye to everyone, plants and countertops included. She appreciates EVERYTHING and has the most amazing vocal inflections. You'd think her mother's an actor.

I thought it too soon to return her to her parents and wondered who I could visit at 9:30 in the morning. There aren't too many people who appreciate visitors at 9:30, but I gave my Aunt Goldie a call.

She was very surprised to hear from me. I don't call much.

"Are you dressed?" I asked. "I'd like you to meet your great, great grand-niece, HH."

"No, dear," she said, surely taken off guard. "I'm ironing and I'm in my nightgown."

No biggie. We talked a bit, then she said, "Well, maybe I'll just toss on a robe. Come on over."

So we did, and HH loved the tiles and the newness of my aunt's building, and the mirrored doors and pics of her cousins, who are also very little. Aunt Goldie made a case for Lucite frames.

After awhile, when HH got bored Aunt G. found a little porcelain doll. The bows on the doll are satiny and there's a little lace hat, and she has shoes that tie, and little pants under her dress. The doll's a serious hit.

The way HH examined every little detail reminded me very much of R., her mother.

"Where's Uncle Max?" I asked my aunt. I assumed he was still sleeping, or maybe watching t.v.

"He's at the office, of course," she answered, as in, Where else would he be?

Of course. My uncle's got to be late 80's.

We took off and in the car I played a mix. HH loved the rock and roll songs, Walking on Sunshine and Kiss Me, but when she heard Leontine Price sing the Puccini aria, The Swallow (La Rondine) she listened especially closely, closed her eyes, then opened them.

I had a tear in my eye- the aria is so beautiful. And when I took a peek back at my granddaughter at the stoplight I could have sworn-- she did, too.

copyright 2007, therapydoc