Grandparents Day-If babies could talk

Dear mouse,

Grandparents Day was last Sunday.not many are not aware that there is such a day. Last Saturday, I was laughing out loud as i listened to George Lopez, A Latino in USA stand-up comedy mentioning his grandmother all the time. He said that Latinos do not put their old folks in convalescent homes. So are majority of Filipinos. They just make them take care of the grandchildren. hehehe. They enjoy caring though unlike a friend of mine who lets her 78 year old mother works so she can pamper her grandchildren with luxuries.

This entry was made in 2004 in Tagalog. I translated it in English.

She is one year old and three inches high.
He is over 60 and stopped growing at 5 feet and 10 inches.
She is his granddaughter,
He is his retired grandfather.
She is the first “apo” from his only daughter. He babysits her while the mother is working part-time.

Let’s listen to their conversations.

Grandfather: Good morning sweetie. How is my beautiful baby?
Granddaughter: Da da da ( Translation: I am good. I had my bath (offered her head for a kiss).
After bringing his granddaughter near the windows several times to make her look for the flying bird , point the blooming flower in the pot and touch the cat sleeping in the corner, the little girl did not have to be coaxed where to go. She grabs the hand of the grandpa.

Grandfather: Where are we going, honey?
Granddaughter: Da da da (translation: Don’t you want to see the bird?)

Grandfather: Where is the bird?
Granddaughter: Da da da da ( I knew it. He gonna look for the bird. I wonder why? Wait a sec, I got to point to him where. Probably he got bad eyes).
Grandfather: Where are the flowers?
Granddaughter: Da da da (Translation: The flowers are not going anywhere and yet he looks for them everyday. I got to tell my mom to put the pot where he can readily see it. Bad eyes again or he can not bend due to back pain?)

Grandfather: Let us look for the cat.

Granddaughter: Da da da da (Translation: I just saw Tubby when he came. Where can that cat be hiding. He always looks for the cat. Maybe because he does not have a cat at home. I heard he got a Tweety bird.
Grandfather: What is this? (showing the TV remote).
Granddaughter: Da da da ( translation; this is used to make people appear and disappear in that box. Press this and it will be noisy. Press this and the noise disappears. This is the favorite of my mom. If my dad is here, you can’t touch that thing. It seems it is attached to his hand even when he’s asleep. Okay, enjoy while I play.)

Grandfather: I wonder where my baby is ? ( He pretends not to see the little girl walking towards the cat. He know that she is going to pull its tail).

Granddaughter: Da da da da (Translation : Ooops, he can see me. I need to go back. I thought he got a bad vision).
Grandfather: Oh there you are. Hugs hugs hugs
Granddaughter: Da da da da (Translation: As if we’re like my mom’s friends. Kisses and hugs. Adults!!).
Grandfather : I wonder where my baby is now? (His eyes are on TV`but he could see her walking towards the door.
Granddaughter: Da da da da (How did he know that I am planning to go out? These old folks have strong sense of smell. My mom can smell if I soil my diapers just because I am quiet. Could it be because they got bigger nostrils? I got to go back to my grandpa and make beautiful eyes).
Grandfather : Oh there you are. Hugs, hugs, hugs.

Granddaughter: Da da da da. (Translation: See, beautiful eyes always work. He got simple joys).

After a while, she walked away again towards the wall.
Granddaughter: Da da da da ( I thought I saw an electrical outlet. I wonder what will happen if I put my finger inside? )

She paused.

Granddaughter: Da da da (translation: I wonder why he’s not looking for me. Why is he quiet? my mom is alarmed when I am quiet. I got to go back).

She found her grandpa snoring.

Granddaughter: Dad a da ( ow, he’s asleep. Why do old people fall asleep easily? Me, they have to give me my milk and scratch my tummy. Got to wake him up. Waah waaah)

Grandfather: Ow what’s the matter, my baby, you’re hungry?
Granddaughter: Da da da ( Translation: what is it with old folks. When I cry, they think that I am hungry. I am just waking him up. HELLO).

Grandfather: Come on let’s eat Cheerios.
Granddaughter: Da da da da (translation: Ow it’s tiring to eat that. You make me me pick up the cereal one by one.)

Her mommy came and her grandfather bid her good bye.

Grandfather: Bye, sweetheart. ( kisses her on the cheek.
Granddaughter: Dad a da ( Translation: Bye, grandpa, come back again. I will ask my dad to catch the bird so you don’t have to look for it again.(kisses the grandfather with open mouth so her grandpa’s face was wet with her saliva).

Mommy: Are you sleepy honey?
Granddaughter: Yes mom I got tired babysitting grandpa. I wish I will never get old. Zzzzzz

The Ca t