I had the most amazing morning this morning.  Victoria, my daughter is taking a class at Scottsdale Community College and needed someone to watch Brayden for a couple of hours.  I volunteered and so our time together was at 8:30 this morning.  I needed to get my truck washed because of the unappreciative black birds that sit on it during the week and choose to deposit their white runny poop onto the top of my truck that then runs down the full length of the truck cab or down the window.

We took off and got in the first of the line for washing the car.  It so happened that the place had free donuts and Brayden downed two whole white iced sprinkle donuts before we left the place.  It needed a vacuum that they didn’t provide, so we went and vacuumed it ourselves before heading to IHOP for some real breakfast.  He ordered scrambled eggs, bacon, and a large pancake.  I ordered 2X2–two eggs and two pieces of bacon with a pancake.

It was during our wait that I talked to him about shaking someone’s hand when he first met a person.  We tried it on Tim, the waiter when he came to take our order.  He put out his right hand like we had talked about and shook Tim’s hand, followed up with, “Nice to meet you.”  Tim was impressed and walked away.  Brayden was so happy he had learned it and began processing the experience.  About that time, an elderly lady came across the room and introduced herself.  She had been observing what was taking place and reached out her hand to shake Brayden’s.  He obliged and said, “Nice to meet you.”  She was so impressed with what he was doing and told Brayden so.

When we got the bill, Tim reached out his hand and shook Brayden’s, telling him to keep up the shaking of hands with people.  We paid and left the restaurant, driving home to meet Mom who was waiting at the house.  This was the first experience of Papa taking Brayden out for a Grandpa, grandson encounter.  Simple pleasure.  It was nothing special, but everything special at the same time.  It was connection with my grandson.  It was teaching time.  It was wonderful.

On this journey, there will be times to connect with those you love.  Slow down during these encounters and soak in the connections that come.  You never know when those encounters may be your last.  Slow down on this journey and smell the simple pleasures of life.