I’ve been awake since about 4:15am. Not that I wanted to be awake that early, but I find as I get older it just sometimes works out that way. My brain decides that we are going to be awake now, even though no other person in their right mind is awake and there’s really not much to do, but we are doing this. Now. Today however, I was lucky enough to wake up in a beachfront condo on the Carolina shore with a beautiful deck and a view of the Atlantic ocean. The sunrise made a lovely backdrop for my morning coffee as I watched the seagulls, the early beach runners and walkers, the treasure hunters, and the dogs walking their owners along the shore.

Yes it’s true, I live in Florida and I came to the beach in North Carolina for a few days of vacation. It wasn’t the beach that lured me here though, but rather the promise of seeing my sweet grandson and spending time with him and his mama and daddy. They were supposed to come visit me in Florida but with it being a Covid hotspot, we thought better of it for the baby’s sake. Instead we decided to meet half way and hole up at a condo on the beach. This is Brodee’s first beach trip – actually, it’s his first long car trip any where. He is almost 10 months old and he is sweet, finicky, fussy, funny, and all the things that a child is at that age. His Busia (me) brought him a shovel and cart and we are going to shovel all the sand on the beach later today. We may eat a little bit of it too, who knows. It’s his call. He’s running this show.

As I was watching the sun rise on this beautiful day, I felt so blessed and at ease. The air was a cool 67 degrees and the breeze blew across my cup of black coffee as I put my feet up on the deck railing. I thought about my sleeping family inside. I thought about how lucky I am to be here with them and to have these moments. I thought about what this day would bring. I thought about breakfast. Hey, it isn’t all deep thinking with me. Sometimes it’s just practical. Life rolls along day by day, and now and then there are these dots on the timeline that stand out. This is one of those. I have this view and the sound of the waves crashing in over and over. I feel the wind and smell the salt. I have my family near. My heart is full and yet at ease all at the same time. I think of my grandparents, my mother who was a grandmother before me, and how now it is my turn. I know people who shy away from the term ‘grandfather’ or ‘grandmother’ because they think it ages them. For me, it is a label I wear with pride and love. I get to watch my daughter grow up all over again. I get to share what (little) I’ve learned along my journey with a young mind. I get to see everything through his eyes and it is fresh again. I get to experience love bigger than any I’ve every known except for maybe when his mama was born. Calling me Busia (grandma) doesn’t impede me or age me or lessen me in any way. Rather, it strenthens me and fortifies me and elevates me. Brodee now smiles a sly little smile when he sees me or hears my voice, he recognizes his Busia. That little smile tells me that we are pals and that we are going to get into so much trouble together, and I can’t wait. His mama and I are very close, always have been. We had a “you and me against the world kid” kind of vibe. With Brodee, it’s more of “come with me, let’s see what we can get into” feeling and it’s what I live for.

I hope you all enjoy this beautiful day, I know that I will. Any minute now, they will be awake. The quiet will end, and the adventure will begin. This Busia is ready to go!