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Jacob, by Dick Hanzelka, 2003


Jacob, our eighth grandchild, sits at a small table at Wendy's with me, and we both enjoy our meal. My wife and the rest of his family sit at a larger table away from us. There was no room for everyone, so the two left-handers in the family opted to find our own place.

His meal of choice is chicken nuggets, fries, and his milk cup. My meal of choice is a grilled chicken sandwich, baked potato, and lemonade. We "talk" and eat. He fills his mouth beyond capacity, then drinks and swallows it all. He never makes a mess and really seems to be enjoying himself.

Since we finish first, we go outside and explore the flowers, the Wendy's sign, the rocks surrounding the parking lot, and anything else that comes into our view. We go back to the building and look through the window at the rest of the family. He smiles and they smile, and we attract the smiles 0 f others in the restaurant. It doesn't get any better than this.

At seventeen months, Jacob is a charmer who smiles at cashiers, at friends, at dogs, at his parents, at his two siblings, at his grandparents, and at any/thing that comes into his path of vision. I am pleased when people say that he looks like me. Is there any comment that could warm a grandpa's heart more? Jacob has taken a particular liking to me... .and the feeling is mutual. He enlists other people's aid in finding me when he doesn't see me around the house right away. He likes to have me pick him up, to go for walks, to play ball, and to just be around him. 

I love all seven of our other grandchildren deeply and they love me, but there is something about Jacob, the lefty that is special.


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