Day 83

Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do.  Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children.  ~Alex Haley

Grateful for sprinkles of stardust

Its just so awesome that he can even still play.  After the accident with his hand, getting it crushed and his fingers shattered, he wondered, "Will I ever get to play again?"  Here he is on the night of St. Patrick's Day Eve.  We had been together at Dublin Bay, celebrating the day's festivities of being Irish, being family, toasting loved ones gone, loved ones far and near...and cherishing what we have.  We watched our little Irish Dancers steal the show.  We had a day full of blessings that were sprinkles of stardust in themselves.  Here, though, we are at home.  Grammie and Grampie's.  After Dublin Bay, we all gathered at Mom and Dad's.  Mom was in the kitchen preparing snacks, and busy trying to meet the request of one of the 11 wandering into the kitchen wanting something...of course she gave them what they wanted.  (That's what this Grammie does best.)
Usually, when the house is chaotic, and Dad sits down to play, you will hear, "RENO! Quit with the piano!  It's loud enough in here!!"  ~Janice.  But this night, we had all eleven kids, parents, Izzy B, Terri and Erica there, too.  It was loud, loud, loud.  Grampie sat down.  Ever so quietly.  He reaches up, touches the piano light with his fingers, and "click" the light goes on.  He softly opens the old sheet music being careful not to tear it.  He sits back, and plays.  The loud fell silent here on this night.  Everyone gathered around the piano.  We started with "When Irish Eyes are Smiling", and moved on to singing very out of tune..."Danny Boy."  He didn't seem to mind, and Grammie, well..she was smiling her Irish smile with that twinkle in her eyes, too.  We all sang and smiled, and laughed.  I think there was a lot of stardust in the room, because with each smile, with each song, grew a warm heart, and love.  All while he plays on.    We grew up on piano music.  We grew up singing "WHEN IT'S SPRINGTIME IN THE ROCKIES"...belting it out as loud as we could out the truck windows, delivering papers with Dad.  I know.  Weird, but, such an awesome memory.

A lot of stardust sprinkled here.  A lot of love in this family.  A lot of fun, and many memories that we will forever cherish in our hearts.  This was a special day, sprinkled with stardust, and I am thankful for that. 
<3