As those of you who read this blog know, on weekdays our four year old grandson, Ben, comes here after school. At 4:30 while his sisters are either playing badminton on the front lawn or making nachos out of Triscuits, Balderson’s cheddar and whatever spices and herbs come their way, Ben and I go upstairs to sit on the treadmill; drink vermouth (me), apple juice (Ben); watch The Young and the Restless and play “Go Fish”.
Given the influences floating our way, we often ponder the metaphysical. In addition to being Ben’s grandmother, I am one of his Sunday School teachers. This week was Holy Week, so it was not surprising that Ben’s thoughts turned to large questions.
As I was trying to keep track of the game and of who was stalking Lauren on TYATR, Ben’s mind was on other matters. “You’re very old, aren’t you Mimi,” he said.
“I’m not young,” I agreed. “But I take pretty good care of myself.”
“Still you are going to die,” he said.
“Yep.”
“I’m not happy about that,” Ben said.
“In that case, I’ll try to put it off for as long as possible,” I said.
The next day, as he tends to when he plays cards with his grandmother, Ben was having phenomenal luck. On The Young and the Restless, the situation was looking dire for Lauren. Ben’s mind was, once again, on larger matters. “Here’s what I’m going to do when you die, Mimi,” he said. “I’m going to put you in that sandpile in my backyard, and every day I’m going to water you.”
It was an interesting concept. “So what do you think watering me every day will do after I’m dead?” I said.
Ben shrugged. “Who knows?” he said, then he drew his favourite card – the Ace of Spades.