Our son Timothy calls his grandparents Grammie and Grammpie and I guess he assumes that’s what the rest of the world calls them. At least that’s how he introduces them to his friends. That’s just who they are.
This weekend Tim was in a production of Richard II at his college. Not a big part, just a few lines and a great gold cape to wear along with a beard (my 19-year-old son in a beard? Not sure I can picture that).
We couldn’t go out to California to see the show but Mom and Dad live only 35 minutes away from the school and as good grandparents managed to go to the matinee. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” said my mom.
They showed up at the theater on campus in plenty of time. Tim had assured them that he’d leave tickets at the box office with their name. “We’ve come to pick up our tickets,” my mom said. “H for Hamlin.”
The girl in the box office looked through her stack of envelopes. “I’m sorry I don’t have anything under Hamlin.”
“That’s funny,” Mom said, “he promised.” And a promise to a pair of grandparents was a promise. She turned to Dad wonderingly. Had he forgotten? And if he didn’t save tickets in their name, would there still be a place for them in the small theater? Then she had an idea.
“Try G,” she said confidently. “Under Grammie and Grampie.”
The girl looked through her stack of envelopes and smiled triumphantly. “Yes,” she said, “here they are. Grammie and Grampie.”
You know how it says in the Bible that God knows who we are and knows when we call him. Well, Tim knows his grandparents…and fortunately they know him.
Mom said the play was wonderful.
Rick Hamlin is the executive editor at GUIDEPOSTS.
