Slice of Life No. 25.0423
#Family #Memories #SOL25

It was when we still owned the big lot as everyone called it, the lot that was a block long, the empty lot bordering our property, the lot we mowed with a rented riding mower.

It was before we sold that lot and the buyer put in a dead-end street and built three homes, each with a detached ADU (auxiliary dwelling unit).

Back then, there was an old, gigantic walnut tree. Its branches were too high to climb, but they were thick and spread out in a manner that was perfect for supporting a tree house.

Back then, the grandkids were young enough to enjoy a tree house, but old enough to play with minimum supervision in the lot that bordered our property.

Back then, there were eight of them–siblings, cousins–all born between 2000 to 2006, except one.

Back then, it was the month we waited for all year, the way we often wait for Christmas. This was the month when my youngest son, Steve, and Jacky, his wife, and their three kids traveled from their home in Ecuador to Oregon for their annual extended visit.

Back then, the kids played outside from sunup to sundown, running between our backyards that border each other and onto the big lot.

Back then, Carl (Grandpa) and Steve decided to give them what every kid dreams of — a tree house.

On that day …

Nate is in my kitchen finishing his snack, a cheese stick, and looking out the back door toward the big lot.

The rest of the grandkids are hanging out in the bed of Grandpa’s old pickup parked on the big lot beneath the old walnut tree.

Steve is putting the finishing touches on the tree house he has just built in the old walnut tree.

Alice, that would be me, is baking a batch of our traditional Christmas date pinwheel cookies from a frozen log of dough that has been reserved for Steve and Jacky from our holidays.

Grandpa, that would be Carl, is putting away yard tools… or so I think.

Action

• The coffee pot beeps to signal it has finished brewing. The coffee had been ordered by Carl and Steve who have been doing yard work all day.
  
• Me, bending over the oven about to remove a tray of cookies, to Nate:
  “Go tell Grandpa his coffee is ready.”
  
• Nate, speaking matter-of-factly:
  “Grandpa’s in the tree.”
  
• Me, standing straight up, nearly losing the tray of cookies:
  “Grandpa’s in the TREE?” (It was a statement and a question rolled up together in four words, like Fern’s mother (Charlotte’s Web) when she realized that Charlotte was a spider: “Charlotte is a spider?” )
  
• Nate, still speaking matter-of-factly:
  “Yep, Grandpa’s in the tree.”
  
• Grabbing my iPhone, I head out the door to record the moment . . . Jacky with me. We hurry across our yard to our big lot to duly inspect the project.

Family. Memories. Priceless treasures.

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