Tickles

It's morning again, and she is in the bedroom asleep. I wake early these days. It seems to be an age thing. So I drink my cup of morning ambition, amble over to the computer to see what the folks on Eons have had to say since I last signed on late last night. There are posts to hold my interest for a while as I wait for the morning Boo and laughter, from Kaia. Or maybe she's a little more quiet this morning and she will just climb up in my lap for a cuddle

I've been very ill, disabled, unable to work in the computer industry that sustained me for so long. My illness coincided with my having grandbabies and for reasons of better healthcare I moved to Maryland. By luck the facility I moved to use was located near where my daughters lived.

Seven years ago, not long before I came here, my daughter had her first daughter. As ill as I was, I still fell in love with her. Life moves on, I began treatment for multiple illnesses and continued getting more granddaughters. Both my daughters were pregnant at the same time four years ago and now I have two more little girlchildren. One of my grandchildren, Kaia, lives three blocks away with her mom, my youngest daughter, Zoey. They stay with me often. Zoey comes over to do laundry and house work to help me out. I'm a very lucky woman and I know it.

Finally my waiting pays off and Kaia pops into my view. She climbs into my lap, not hungry for breakfast yet but wanting to be tickled. She's nuts about it, she loves to be tickled. Most kids will giggle for a minute then shriek to be released, but Kaia just asks for more. Kaia is insane for tickles. She gets up in the morning and says "Nonnie I haven't had my morning tickle yet".

It has become a ritual. The recliner has to be in the feet up position so she won't wiggle out of my lap. I must start slowly with her little toes and feet and work my way up all the ticklish spots on her legs and tummy. At some point before I reach her ribs and that spot under her arms, she cries out, "OK Nonnie, tickle me crazy!" where upon I tickle fast and furious and start kissing her neck and tickling her ears.

She giggles and faux shrieks through out this tickle and lies in my arms softly laughing when I protest that I'm worn out from all the effort. Getting tickles and the then the cuddling and kissing has become serious bonding time for this little girl and me. My only problem is that she has discovered that the soles of my feet are ticklish and I will really cry torture when she goes for them.

This little family of two needs me as I have come to need them in my life. Zoey has been disabled since birth and requires assistance as well. Both her sister Robin and I try to give her enough and usually accomplish it. She's a great mother and daughter. She has much that helps make up for that which she didn't get in life.

My day continues with Kaia's breakfast and playing "camping" and "horsies" and reading books till her mama gets up. The day is quiet and simple and I love it. As I have recovered from what seemed like a tragedy, I have found a new direction in my lfe, helping and being helped by daughter and granddaughter. Another "True North" on my personal compass.