GRAVETTE — Every old cow thinks her calf is the blackest, at least around here. I have a close relative who fits that category to a tee. She loves to show and tell about her Grands to just anyone who will listen and some who won’t stand still, she falls in formation and follows around. Not that I don’t think she should, I’ve always been close by and poked my chest out, grinning and nodding in agreement. It’s the other folks that I wonder about, those who think their Grands are smarter, cuter or better singers than ours! Do we agree that the truth can be stretched paper thin concerning some of these tales? OF course it can be and of course we must take some of the anecdotes with a grain of salt. But I am about to tell you one that is too cute to keep to myself.

I have a cousin who lives a couple hundred miles west of us and we try to get together during the holidays for at least one meal together, his close relative and me and mine. Sometimes we are both pretty busy and plan on meeting half way, have supper at a steak house, rent a room in the same motel and sit up half the night talking. That is what we did this year. Our meeting came several weeks after the holidays but it was good anyway.

Jim and Julie have some fine offspring and theirs are about the same age and number as ours. The years have passed and now their Grands are sorta like ours in age and doing lots of the same stuff. They are into buying bikes and skateboards, iPods and Blackberries and attending many soccer games. My close relative and Julie told lots of stories about their Grands and we had a million laughs about some of their escapades.

Christmas tales finally came up and we told about thepony and how much fun we had watching them unwrap their gifts. Jim said to sit back, he had one that would really tickleus.Seems he has a friend who is just the size of Santa and shows up at many parades and shopping centers for the townsaround.Hebleacheshis hair to snow white and grows a beard and the whole deal. Jim and Julie’s youngest Grand is a darling little girl of four and deep into the Santa lore. She can recite the names of all the reindeer and tell stories about her trips to the North Pole. Jim made arrangements for Santa to show up at their home on Christmas Eve just for the child’s benefit!

Her family was visiting and enjoying the tree and decorations when Santa just opened the door and came in. He found a chair and sat down, propped his feet up on the ottoman and smiled. Smiling so sweetly, the child slid off her Papa’s knees and went straight to Santa. She climbed up on his lap, got all comfy and looked over the situation. No one said a word. The visiting had stopped and it was very quiet. Her curls bouncing, her eyes glistening, she looked up at Santa and said,“So, how’s your wife?”

How’s that for a Southern lady? Santa came to visit and she was ready to be polite and include him in the conversation.

It is my opinion, and everyone has one, there are black calves born on other people’s places too! I just couldn’t top this one but my Grands are being spied on by my close relative every chance she gets so she can surpass this one with one of our own!

I say, “Thank God for Grands!” -Bill

Editor’s Note: You ask: Who is Bill? Bill said: “Tell ‘em I’m Just Plain Bill.

Opinion, Pages 5 on 01/20/2010