Checklist Charlie
Valentine's Day for the others you love
CATHY KRAFVE

Have you noticed that Christmas has instantaneously evaporated from the stores, replaced by heart-shaped boxes of chocolate?

Yes, the merchants are hoping to evoke loving emotions that translate into bucks spent on candy and flowers.

I don't begrudge them their enterprise; I'm a big fan of capitalism.

After all, at least the flowers are local.

Anyway, as tempting as the chocolate is, it is really the Girl Scout cookies that torpedo my New Year's diet every year.

For some reason, the heart-shaped bearers of temptation don't remind me of my true love.

They remind me of my mom.

I'm not sure what that tells you about my childhood, except that women who love chocolate trait is hereditary in our family.

Seeing red and pink hearts in all the stores fills me with love and appreciation for the two women who have been irreplaceable in raising my children: the two grandmothers of my children.

I asked my oldest child what advice she would give grandparents.

"Just ask them," she responded with authority.

"Huh?"

Grandkids can always say no, but ask them to do anything with you, no matter how silly you may think it sounds, she explained.

Then she listed all the things she had experienced because her grandparents invited her along in their life.

! Cultural events, like symphonies, ballets, plays, and operas

! The US political process, by way of Smith County Party Conventions, and League of Women Voters meetings, not to mention meeting candidates in person

! Sporting events, including little league games and football on TV

! Travel, like the trip to Disney World or Europe

! Skills, like vegetable gardening, woodworking, knitting, quilting, praying, bible studying

! Community Service, like fundraising, performing for civic functions, and participating in event planning

The list was extensive.

Honestly, as parents, we were often just too busy to do the extra stuff. Many of these experiences would not have happened without the grandparents.

My daughter said it never occurred to her that one of these activities would be boring or tedious, because her grandparents had spoiled her rotten as long as she could remember.

Any invitation with them had an instant appeal.

That's pretty sweet stuff.

We always reap what we sow.

In recent years, my grown daughters have returned the favor by inviting their grandparents on adventures.

My favorite was when they were at TJC and invited their grandmothers to travel with Dr. Crawford's group to New York.

It turned into an all-girl foursome with both grandmothers and my two daughters sharing a room and taking in bunch of Broadway shows.

All the love that these grandparents have lavishly poured out on their grandkids is returning to them in the way they are loved and honored by their grandchildren.

So, while for some reason I can't seem to remember Grandparents' Day, Valentine's Day always makes me think of two very special women, my children's grandmothers.

I am planning to do a series on grandparenting which is kind of ironic since I don't have grandchildren yet.

I need help, so if you have some experience in this area I hope to hear from you.

!

Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives with her family in the beautiful woods of East Texas. She welcomes all comments, suggestions, and lists at CAEKrafve2@aol.com.