Reflections of... Family

 "Jett Jameson and his parents celebrate his 4th bday!"

         Reflections Of… family!

                                       by Alan P. Scaglione

Sometimes, somebody just changes your life forever, and your life is never the same.
Sometimes, that somebody is your grandson.
Sometimes, you’re amazed at how much can happen in 4 short years!
Jett is turning 4 on Tuesday—Wow! 4 years old! How did that happen?
If you are a grandparent, you know how that happens!
In an instant, a blink of an eye—they transform from a baby in a bundle to a boy on the warpath!
And it seems to happen in just a few moments of life.
I have to admit, Jett is a special one for me—I love them all, and I would give my heart and soul to each of them, if needed.
But…maybe because of when Jett was born in my life, right around the time of my heart attack, maybe that’s what makes him special to me.
You see… Jett didn’t know me before my heart attack, so he didn’t expect me to be that person when I couldn’t be…
He just wanted me to be Nano! By the way, in Italian, that’s pronounced NahNO!
The first 18 months after my heart attack were rough—I wasn’t the poster child for how you bounce back from a heart attack.
I was experiencing heart attack symptoms every day for 18 months AFTER my heart attack.
My doctor said I would just have to get used to the fact that my body never quite healed after my heart attack.
All due to the extreme damage my heart had sustained during the heart attack.
So… everyone else in my family was wondering when the old "gregarious, life of the party, laugh all the time" Alan was coming back.
I didn’t know the answer to that question…(God did-- He healed my heart January2011!)
And Jett never asked me to…
All he said was simply, “Nano, come play!”
And play is what we have done every time I have had the pleasure to spend a day with Jett.
At the beach—you may remember my first column—taking him to the beach for the first time—Psalm 91—scooping him up before the waves got him!
At the park- rolling down the hill must have been a funny sight for him—he laughed and laughed and laughed!
At the mall – picture a 2 year old the carousel – with his grandfather sitting ON the horse with him—not standing next to, but ON the horse!
At the waterworks – running through the fountain as it soaked us, drenched us, saturated us—while he yelled “Do it again, Nano! Do it again!”
For those who have read my column for the last 2 + years, you remember all of those stories!
I do believe Jett has been the center of more of my columns than anyone else—and you know why!
I don’t get to see him as often as I would like—but honestly, I would have to live with him to satisfy my desire to be with Nano’s Little Buddy, so…
I am grateful for each outing, each visit, each memory made…
And now, I send him cards in the mail…with a picture and a dollar or two…
A picture so... he won’t forget me; a dollar so… he can buy himself something!
His mom says he loves getting mail…she tells me that he puts the pictures in his photobook and…puts the dollars in his wallet!
And tells her “Let’s go to the store!”
Yes—my almost 4 year old grandson has a wallet! How cool is that?
I was walking through our local farmer’s market yesterday when I get a call.
It goes like this:
“Hi Nano. Nothing. I bought a car. I love you. Ok… Here’s Mommy!”
“Nothing” answered my question—what are you doing?
“I bought a car” answered Did you get your money?
“I love you” was unprompted… the best answer!
“Ok…Here’s Mommy” was… I’m finished talking so I am giving you to my Mom!
He is not a phone talker—his Mom and I agreed he is like his Dad on that!
I thanked his Mom for orchestrating the phone call and coaxing her 4 year old—much appreciated!
We hung up the phone…
And I laughed and I cried—while walking through the Farmer’s Market….because my Little Buddy had called me!
He is just growing up sooooo fast!
Happy Birthday, J.J. !

 Brother “A”

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