The Northern Cascades Highway is one of the truly spectacular scenic highways of the United States. The alpine vistas rival those of Glacier National Park or the Beartooth Highway between Red Lodge and Cook City, Montana. It was a good choice for us for yesterday. We stopped and walked to waterfalls and view points and the walking broke up a day’s driving and put us in a good frame of mind for a two-hour drive in steady traffic on Interstate 5 through Seattle. I like to think that our safe travels have to do, in part, with a good attitude towards others. Because we are not in too much of a hurry, we are able to allow other drivers to squeeze into the flow of traffic. We have no urge to cut off other drivers or to increase the stress of driving for others.

Of course, the event of the day for us was getting to the home of our grandson, son and daughter-in-law. Our arrival was later than we expected, due in part, to our inability to predict how long it takes to travel a distance in traffic.

Not long after our arrival we were out on the Chehalis trail, walking with our grandson. It is a different journey, now that he is a toddler. Last year when we visited our routine involved getting him into the stroller and moving down the trail at our usual pace. This year, he was out of the stroller and moving at his own pace, exploring all of the sticks, blades of grass and leaves that caught his eye. Although he can walk, his legs are short and his sense of direction and purpose are definitely different than ours. We didn’t make it very far down the trail, but we had a wonderful adventure nonetheless.

I have always loved caps and hats, so his large cap shading his eyes and his interest in my cap were delightful to me. Part of the way, he was carrying a stuffed fox, that was my toy when I was a child, his father’s toy in turn and now is Elliot’s. I don’t suppose it would be fair to say that I recognize myself in my grandson, but I definitely recognize similarities, some of which are also shared by his father.

There is something wonderful about a grandchild that is difficult for me to express. Of course the experience is not new. We have always been multi-generational people. Although the propagation of the species does not require more than two generations at a time, humans have almost always lived long enough to see their grandchildren. In many societies grandparents help with childcare and do other jobs to make the society function. We, however, live in a time when families spread out. Susan and I have only two children, but we now occupy three states with thousands of miles separating members of our family. We also have the luxury of travel that allows us to get together face-to-face multiple times each year. And we have the wonders of technology that give us video conferencing and inexpensive long distance telephone conversations.

Still, there is nothing quite like going for a walk in the woods with your grandson. He would come up to me and grab my finger and lead me in the direction he wanted me to go. These days there is an almost constant stream of chatter that comes from him. Although I wouldn’t call it conversation, there is connection in his speech. I don’t understand words, but the rhythm and vocal variation in his chatter definitely mimics speech. And there is a long list of words that work for him. “Hi!” and “Bye!” are ready greetings with appropriate waves of his hand. He can show me his nose and eyes and ears and head and feet and hands and other body parts. He responds to the word “hat” appropriately, but what he says back doesn’t sound like “cap” or “hat” to me. He calls a car a “doot doot.” In fact most things with wheels get the same designation. He seems fascinated with wheels and wanted to point out that his stroller and the car both have wheels.

I could go on and on with the observations about our grandson, his language development, and such. I’m sure that grandparents have been boring their audiences with stories of their progeny for generations.

In the evening we went with Elliot to his swimming lesson. The program allows for different adults to accompany the children during the lessons. Elliot’s parents take turns most of the time, but last night I was able to be with him. I quickly learned the routines and songs that the class shared. I marveled at his ease in the water. He splashes, kicks and even puts his face in the water. More amazing is that he was able to trust me in the pool with him. We live far away. It wouldn’t have surprised me if it took him some time to recognize, remember, and become comfortable with us. What happened, however, was an instant warmth and acceptance. We were able to take him for a walk within the first hour after we arrived. The same evening he trusted me in the swimming pool.

In theology we talk about the abstract concept of transcendence. It is a somewhat difficult concept for some people to understand. How can God be in multiple places at the same time? How can God’s presence be the same in different times? There are some who reject the notion of transcendence, saying that there is nothing that operates outside of the observed “laws” of nature. In reality, however, it is quite easy to observe transcendence. The love of family is definitely greater than distance. We can be in different places and still maintain a very close relationship. We can have separate lives, with different jobs and have different experiences and when we do get together the connection is instant. We remain connected even when we are apart.

The next few days are a time of joy, joy, joy for us. We don’t have too many specific plans, just the opportunity to be with our family in their home. Our son will still have to go to work, our daughter-in-law will still have meetings and appointments and work to do. And we will be in the fortunate position of being able to be with our grandson and marvel at his life and growth.

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