As it turned out, Grandma had plans of her own.

“Oh I’m so glad to see you! Look how much you’ve grown! We’re going to have so much fun!” she greeted us.

The next day she took us to see a matinee movie, bought us clothes, and played innumerable rounds of cards.

She then took us to the nearest Holiday Inn and we swam for hours! We also went bowling that evening for one game before her league showed up and we watched her bowl. She bought us nachos.

It rained for two days, so we stayed in, but she taught us to cook meatballs and the best chocolate chip cookies. We played in the attic, dressing up in old clothes, and tried out an ancient record player.

She shared some stories about our Dad we had never heard, and some about her own life.

When the rain stopped we took a walk around her block and splashed in the puddles while she told us how it used to be.

By the time Mom and Dad came to get us, I didn’t even care if we went to the water park or not this summer. I had already had the best vacation ever!