'Andpa interrupted

My folks stayed with us for a week over Christmas. And we had fun.

We talked, we laughed, we cooked, we ate, we drank, we went out, we stayed in, and, we all spent time reading with Monkey on our lap. Everyone, that is, except 'Andpa.

Remember when I wrote about how Monkey was terrorized by the doctor and his stethoscope? Did I mention that after her appointment, she was scared of older white men, in their 60s with a beard that was gray/graying (like her doctor)? And did I also mention that 'Andpa looks like that? Yup, you know where this is going.

So....when Grandma and 'Andpa rolled in the door, Monkey was less than enthusiastic about 'Andpa. She eyed him warily and generally stayed about an arm's length away for the first day. Then, when 'Andpa brought out his digital Leica (in a beautiful silver and black case....just like a stethoscope) and snapped a few photos, Monkey's lip began to tremble and she was visibly afraid. The camera was put away, and Monkey settled down.

Days passed.

Eventually, the night before Grandma and 'Andpa were scheduled to leave, Monkey finally brought a book to 'Andpa and tried to climb into his lap.

Just as monkey settled in for a snuggle, her godmother walked in the room. Monkey leapt out of 'Andpa's lap and ran to get a hug. And that was it. No lap time, no reading, no snuggling. I think my father felt cheated by fate.

The only solution? Yup, more time together. Once 'Andpa and Grandma finish their whirlwind tour of Tasmania and New Zealand, we'll have to plan the next visit. Without Monkey's godmother to interrupt!