Points2Ponder

                  "Jett riding his motorcycle!"

                 Points2Ponder

                                            By Alan P. Scaglone

 When’s the last time you saw something…

Through a child’s eyes?
And felt the glee they feel—
Even though it’s in the middle of a parking lot!

 Points2Ponder  When’s the last time you saw something old in a whole new way?

My 4 year old grandson Jett spent the night this past weekend.

It is a great moment for me—he is so funny and full of life.
Nana and I had both Jett and Cali, his 8 month old little sister, over Friday night.
Mom and Dad had a date—very important for young couples to remember what started the family.
So… they picked up Sweet Cali around 10pm…
I wasn’t sure if Jett would want to go home or stay with Nano and Nana!
He didn’t miss a beat—gave his parents a kiss and walked them out—then jumped in my arms and said “Let’s play, Nano!”
And we stayed up til midnight, when his last negotiation for “5 more minutes, I promise!” was exhausted.
I said his night prayers, and I kissed him goodnight.
He was asleep in 5 minutes—he was exhausted.
He slept through the night… woke up and found Nana first.
He asked “where’s Nano?”
I appeared, and we were off! Played with his toys and then did some homework. He is in 4 year old school, and he has homework once a week.
Then… I told him we were going to the carnival by his house.
His dad said that Jett had seen it a few times and wanted to go, but…
They saved it for me!
My son gave us the directions, and off we went.
But not before we… went for breakfast at the place I always took my kids in Ybor City, at Tropicana.
My Nana used to live in a 2 story apartment on the same corner where the Tropicana now stands, so… it’s kind of like taking them to Nana’s house!
Then we went to the bakery, La Segunda Central, where I was taken by my father when I was growing up and I took all my kids too.
See… it’s my job to teach Jett his heritage—he is the only Scaglione Son, so… he will someday teach his son all of the Scaglione stories—after I teach them to him!
It’s my job to tell Jett and Cali about those who have gone before who helped bring us to where we are today and someday, they will share these stories with theirs!
Jett got a few cookies—let’s not tell him mom, okay?
And then…we were off to the Carnival!
When we got there, I saw that… his carnival that he was so excited to go to and could not wait to get to…
Was on the parking lot of the local mall close to his house—The Parking Lot!!!
Not even a field of grass or lot of sand and dirt—nope, it was a parking lot!
But… Jett didn’t care!
He pulled me as I held his hand and we ran toward the Carnival.
He said “I wanna ride every ride, okay Nano?”
Hey… he’s my grandson—of course it’s okay!
As I surveyed the kids’ section, I counted 5 rides— this shouldn’t take long.
He was so full of amazement—he was laughing and running and jumping and smiling ear to ear.
In the middle of a mall parking lot—my grandson was in heaven!
He didn’t know—this should be in the middle of a field or on a vacant sand lot.
All he knew was- after a week of driving by it—he was finally here!
And he loved every ride!
Yes—I fulfilled his request—he rode every one!
And the one he loved the most—the motorcycles—he rode twice!
And he never knew there was anything to be disappointed about.
For him—he loved his trip to the Parking Lot Carnival!
I guess we need to spend less time on what it is not—and just enjoy what it is!
Lesson learned—thanks Jett!

 

I’m Just… Reflecting on -- Life!

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What's the last thing a child taught you?