Beaudry taking time out from a very busy day.
Beaudry turned two years old this past week. He’s my youngest grandson. In these difficult times birthday parties can’t be celebrated in the traditional manner. We understand it, Beaudry did not.
Beaudry is a loveable, cute, smart little boy, although a handful for his mom and dad at times. He’s a little chunky around the edges and already his grandmother (GaGa) and others are comparing us to each other.
Maybe some of those apparent similarities come from our mutually aggressive change in attitude when we get hungry. Let’s just say, when we’re hungry – somebody better feed us!
These are times like we have never seen before. COVID-19 is a killer virus, invisible and it spreads like wildfire. It has brought us to our knees, closing businesses, schools, churches, theaters, sporting events, weddings, graduations, anniversaries and any place people gather.
With good reason, this virus has unfortunately separated families, forcing a wave, a smile, a tear or a laugh from behind a window. It’s hard for families, harder than we should have to imagine.
Great-grandmother Delores and Grandmother, Kim hold signs in drive-by bitrhday party.
The drive-by party has become very popular in these troubled times. We are a resourceful people and hard to hold down.
Beaudry sat in his stroller at the end of their drive and watched family and friends drive by beeping their horns, holding signs, decorated in balloons, tossing candy and throwing kisses from their cars, trucks and motorcycles.
Beaudry sat in his stroller, a confused look on his face, wondering why and not understanding exactly what is going on. He enjoyed it and laughed of course, he was just puzzled.
Just a week or so earlier, family members could pick him up when he reached for a hug. Now he wonders why we back away, keeping our dreaded but necessary “social distance.”
The look on Beaudry’s face reminded me of a visit at their home not long ago. I no more walked in and heard Beaudry yelling from the other end of the house, “Papa, Papa, Papa, Papa, Papa, Papa!”
His mom, Shay, smiled and said to me, “He’s been asking for you all morning.”
His little legs going as fast as they would take him to me, through the family room and across the kitchen.
Beaudry reached for me to pick him up, gave me a hug and then smiling said once more, “Papa.” He then punched me in the face, smiling mischievously.
It was an extraordinary feeling. Similar to the feeling I got from his brothers and his dad. Except I think Beaudry hit harder.
It’s my own fault really.
We are making great progress with this horrible virus and hopefully it will all be over soon. Life can return to normal.
My hope is Beaudry will never have another drive-by birthday. And we won’t be separated by a pane of glass again.
Contact Randy at rjorgensen@pageone-inc.com
