Brie and Grandma Togedder

     My granddaughter, Gabrielle, and I have had weekly get togethers since she was an infant. Brie is now 3, so we have fallen into a routine of things we do at Grandma's house. This week we had a family birthday dinner for my husband and Brie, of course, was there. When I told her it was nice that she was playing on the slide with sock monkey, she said, "No Grandma, Brie and Grandma togedder." I explained that I was busy with the dinner, but we could play together in a couple days. But I have been thinking ever since about how quickly the time will come when she has better playmates than Grandma and many interests beyond her family. I want to hold on as tightly as I can to what we have now because soon, very soon, she will leave behind the days of "Brie and Grandma togedder." But I will not. I will lock them in my heart and memory like the treasure they are.
   Longfellow wrote a wonderful poem about this called "The Children's Hour". I have memorized the last two verses and will share them here:

I have you fast in my fortress,
   And will not let you depart,
But put you down into the dungeon
   In the round-tower of my heart.

And there will I keep you forever,
   Yes, forever and a day,
Till the walls shall crumble to ruin,
   And moulder in dust away!