Tubing

I can't believe that until a week or so ago I had never been tubing.....how have I missed out on this form of recreation????? For the past 14 years I have lived in North GA which seems to be the tubing capital of GA. All I know is I love it, it combines some of my favorite things, running water, floating on giant inner tubes and having fun!

Today we are taking a group of 6 boys scouts and Genevieve tubing in Helen. It promises to be a good time!

What are the two successful elements of water play with scouts, discipline and leadership. You have to have enough adults and the boys must be willing to obey said adults, if those two elements are in place the rest will follow......or so the adult training website says :)

Giving me a hard time

One of our first pictures together, he blames his big ears on me holding onto them as I rode on his shoulders.

As soon as I walked in the door on Thursday it begin, a twinkle in his eye he did everything he could to get under my skin. It was a silent challenge that let me know, " I am still the boss". "Okay, we'll see!"

After about the 3rd try to push my buttons, I looked him straight in the eye and said "watch it buddy!" He looked right back eyes still a twinkling and said, " I know why you are here, and you have to leave before my nurse gets here because I don't stand a chance with both of you here."

We both laughed, but he knew it was true. I am the only granddaughter, the oldest grand child and my Granddaddy and I have always had a special relationship. I like to think he loves me a little bit more than all those stinky boys :)

You see for as long as I can remember I have been called in when Granddaddy wouldn't "behave himself". I can remember as a teenager going to the hospital to straighten things out when he was being exceptionally rude to the nurses, who were doing nothing more than following orders.

March of 2009 when the downhill descent begin in earnest, I got the call. Granddaddy is having some issues with his legs and we could use some help. I went and stayed 3 days I think, doing whatever was necessary but admonishing him to be nice to these people who were just trying to take care of him.

Yesterday as I got ready to leave, knowing that I may never see him again in this life, my last words were " don't let anybody make you feel bad, its your body, but be nice!"

As we visited yesterday he told me at one point that he didn't want any of us to feel bad, to carry any guilt. He is doing what he wants with his body. Ask him how he feels and you may get a different answer depending on who you are, and what you want him to do. If you want him to go to the hospital or doctor he is 100 % better and no problems, the pain isn't bad. If you want him to live out his last days his way....he leg hurts, it takes him a good 10 minutes to scoot out of the chair and he legs turn black when they aren't elevated, not to mention I think the left leg is now getting as bad as the right.

This morning I get a call as I am getting ready to head home, it is Granddaddy, "Hey" he says "you should be at church already, why are you running so late?"........no sense in arguing the technicalities....my response"What are you up to this morning?", " I am just calling to tell you I ain't dead yet!" laughing into the phone he thinks this is funny!!!!!!!!!!

I guess I should have been more specific about who he should be nice to and I should be on the list.

September of 2010 they will have been married 60 years!

The whole crew, all kids, grandkids, and great grandkids with Granddaddy front and center of his motley group!