THE NOSEY NEIGHBOR- Missing in action

SWEET MOMENTS to treasure from July 20,2020

Typically, I would have seen my grandchildren once a week. I have not seen them since March. I have waited so long for sweet moments as this, although very short.

It was an emotional moment. It was a long-anticipated moment. FaceTime holds nothing to seeing your grands in person. Although, I did not get to hold, hug, or kiss, I did manage to sneak a quick baby touch. They stayed in their car seats as we chatted and brought joy to this grandma.

I grieve the loss of not being able to hold my brand new newborn granddaughter. The loss has been great. She is now two and a half months old.

Not being able to see a newborn grand baby is one of those things as a grandparent you don’t really contemplate happening. You can’t imagine you won’t be there to experience those early days up close and personal.

When you’re sacrificing the ability to see your grandchildren to follow the guidelines, watching others flout pandemic rules can be greatly disquieting. “I get very annoyed,” It’s sad to know you’ve missed those firsts. It’s bittersweet joy and underscores the distance thing.

Watching a baby’s first weeks digitally can be jarring: you notice their growth more acutely than you would in real life.

Under normal circumstances I would have visited as soon as possible after the birth. I have so many memories with the other two. The difference between the three births is stark.

I am grateful that little Eliza arrived safe and healthy albeit three weeks early. The relief is tempered with a sadness that I did not get to hold her and cuddle her.

This is one of the emotional sides of the pandemic.

It is a bitter pill to swallow when the greatest risk is to us older adults with multiple existing health conditions. For now it is the best family decision to help protect my health.

So I remain an Agent of Shield , Captain America Grandma joining with the S.H.I.E.L.D.( stands for "Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division,”) My grandchildren’s father has worked for Marvel so we pretend a lot about super heroes. If I had to choose a super power, I would choose teleporting.

“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul” (3 John 2).