The Chimes of Time

Many years ago our family had a reunion at Pine Mountain Park in Kentucky. We had special things planned, as a talent show, a gift exchange and a special prize. We drew numbers for this special prize. The prize was a chiming clock made by my brother Gene. My sister Ruth was the lucky winner. She took it home in the back seat of her car, with a seat belt around it for protection. When she sold her house and went to live in a retirement complex she had limited space. Her daughter took the clock to her home for safe keeping. It is a beautiful clock as Gene was a very meticulous clock maker. He also made other reproductions of antique furniture for his children and grandchildren. He had a special shop built on his property for this specialized hobby.

When he saw how I was taken with this clock for Ruth he determined to make a clock for me. In due time the clock arrived in a special box made just for this clock. He even made a shelf to hold it on the wall. He made me a part of the project by sending me the face of the clock so I could put decorations on it. At each corner I painted a rose. I engaged a glass maker to frost the glass except for the center where the pendulum could be seen. At each corner of the glass the glass maker put roses. It is a very personalized clock.

The other special thing is the Westminster Chimes inside the works. They announce the quarter hour, half hour, three quarter hour and chime the hour.

This clock is sitting on the little shelf on the east wall of my living room. Throughout the house I can hear the chimes. As time has passed I have become accustomed to hearing it and sometimes am not even aware it is chiming. But it is there and faithful to keep the time. About once a week I open the door and using a little key I rewind three different stems, which keep it going.

This special clock will have even more meaning for me now as the clock maker has passed on to assist the master carpenter. I think they both know the joy of creation, each in his own way. Each has taken pride in his work and blessed others with it. Each has passed on to the next generation a gift of himself to be shared and enjoyed. I am reminded of the gifts of life and nature that were given eons ago when I look out my windows. I am reminded of the gift of love made by human hands when I see this clock or hear the chiming of the hour. A gift that warms my heart and brings back memories of a life time of having a brother who makes me so very proud.

Birthday Event

Yesterday I left my two charges, Rocky and Cujo, and drove down to Snellville where my son, his two boys and their mother live. When I arrived at my son's home the birthday boy was asleep. He requires frequent naps to be at the top of his game. I had a little chat with my son and second grandson until Grant awakened. The moment his father heard him upstairs he sprinted from the room to get him in his shower and dressed for his own birthday party.

The party was scheduled at his mother's home a few blocks away and was a real surprise party. My second grandson, now 17 and driving, drove my car over to his Mom's. When we entered the house all was quiet. We walked back to the living room area and when Grant got to the quiet room, everyone shouted out "surprise" !!!! He was really not expecting this, which was the idea !!

Gathered there were his last four baby sitters, or play friends or nanny, which ever label fits. Also some special neighbors who have known him for so long. After greetings all around his mother began to set out the birthday cake and extra cheese cakes, etc. Usually there is one cake but she had choices. It all looked so tempting but I settled on white cake with raspberry filling.

In the adjoining room, called the music room as Reed the oldest, plays his cello there and the piano is there also, was a shiny new bicycle with a huge bow on the handlebars. Grant did not notice it in his eagerness to show the pet parrot to his friends. The parrot was in his cage and stayed there during the party. This was a mixed group with two toddlers, one four year old, one five year old and one not yet born. It all worked so well as Grant is Mr. Personality and blends in nicely with any age. Among his gifts were a gift card, money in a pine cone disguised as a turkey, a "doctor" shirt (as he likes to pretend he is a doctor with his stethoscope and accompanying medicine bag). Also a bicycle guard cap with red streaks on it. This from his brother. Games, book, and some gifts from the lunch room lady which they left at his home.

Grant is mesmerized with Hannah Montana. He likes to play pretend games with her as the focus. He likes her music and the idea of having her as a best friend. This is a well known fact and the school lady had given him a soft purple boot pillow with Hanna's logo on it. It is all a game and I think he knows it but he is so full of life it seems right.

Grant has a phenomenal memory and will long remember this day which so many people lovingly shared with him. This his 13th birthday has been a long journey which is still in progress. It has been a struggle for his parents and his brother who will be leaving home next year to attend college.

At the party I talked to the mother of one of his sitters. She was a teacher whom I met when we were both teachers at the same school. I was telling her a story of when Grant was still crawling and not yet vocalizing. He was on the carpet in front of a sofa. Reed and I were sitting on the sofa and having a popcorn snack. The television was on a kiddie program. Grant was watching us and I was watching him. He suddenly said to me " I want up there". I was so surprised to hear him speak as I had not heard him vocalise at all. So, I picked him up and sat him with us and fed him small easy pieces of popcorn. It has been a long history of speech lessons and appointments with specialists to help him grow and develop. It has taken much patience and love from his parents to help him reach this point in life. So entering his teen years was indeed an occasion for celebration. The journey is not over, the special sessions will continue, the support and love will continue, and Grant's engaging personality will bind us to him in many ways.

This is a story of coping when life takes a turn not expected. When a child is born with a genetic anomaly which is new to you. A lot must be learned and strength which seems out of reach is deep inside ready to be tapped. A child who spends his childhood trying to catch up, who knows only one way of living. Hopefully all such children with Prader Willi Syndrome will find a family who can be supportive and loving and kind to help in his/her journey.