“…and they lived happily ever after.” As it should be. Stories should always have a happy ending. I just finished reading a wonderful novel about the most endearing child ( a granddaughter no less) and it had a happy ending (bittersweet but happy). It was very thought provoking and superbly well written. I don’t see the point of spending hour after hour reading a book or watching a movie only to end up being disappointed.. Imagine my dismay with Cold Mountain! My goodness I spent days invested in that man as he toiled torturous years traveling to find his lost love only to die as soon as he reunites! What the heck! Not good. Stories need to have happy endings.

We were visiting my Mom a few weeks ago and as always they are watching old movies all day and night. (The system I was raised by). Mostly old westerns and musicals. There was a Fred Astaire movie on and I had to leave the house to run an errand. When I got back I sarcastically asked “ did Fred Astaire finally get the girl? Was everything good?” Of course I knew the answer, these old movies always have a happy ending. I grew up watching old movies every chance I got. I wanted to dance like Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. I wanted to shoot like the Rifleman and ride like the Lone Ranger and the Cisco Kid. I wanted to save the world like The Scarlet Pimpernel.

In the book I just finished, the darling precocious little 7 year old girl had the most special relationship with her Granny. It was a magical and spiritual bond. They even communicated in their own made up language when they didn’t want others to know what they were saying. They shared fairy tale stories and had adventures. The little girl thought her Grandma had super powers! The story explores how important their relationship was and how it affected all those around them.

We have been spending quality time lately with our grandkids every chance we get. At some point our story will end. I want them to think I could dance like Fred Astaire. I want them to think I could ride like the Lone Ranger or at least be as smart as Curious George or as clever as Jake the Pirate and as brave as Moana. I want to be like granny in the story. I want them to think I had a super power (no, writing run on sentences is not a super power). I want them to live happily ever after.

So I will continue to love them and show them how important they are! I will continue to write blogs so some day they can read them all and realize how much they meant to me. Someday they will say “wow our grandpa sure was weird, but he must have really loved us – and what the hell is a Scarlet Pimpernel?”