Growing up with granddaughter

Yesterday when I started watching the Wimbledon semi-finals between Murray and Roddick, my second son’s daughter Nonee (Annie) was playing chess with her aunt. Soon their game was over and the little granddaughter asked me whether I wanted to play. I was more interested in watching tennis.

After a while Nonee came with a small torch, held it close to my mouth without switching on and started asking questions. I knew she was simulating an interview, and played along.

It went on like something like this:

Nonee(N): Do you play chess?

Me (M): Used to.

N: How good were you?

M: Okay at college level.

N: Why don’t you play now?

M: Difficult to concentrate.

(Pause.)

N: You seem to like tennis better.

M: I like tennis also.

N: Have you played tennis?

M: Yes.

N: Where?

M: Home, college, club.

(The next question I had anticipated did not come.)

N: Who do you think will win today? Murray?

M: Roddick is playing better.

N: But who do you want to win?

M: The better player.

N: That’s a smart answer.

M: I’m a smart chap.

N: You are. Thank you.

M: Thank you.

N (moments later): Did you know that you were interviewed live?

M: That’s not fair. You should have warned me.

N: Then it wouldn’t have been so natural.

M: I could have put on some makeup.

N: That’s okay. You looked fine.

M: Thank you.

N: You’re welcome.

The granddaughter took my mobile phone and pretended dialing. Then she gave me a big grin and said: Know what? Millions of people all over the world watched you.

M: Really?

N: Yes, all the people in my imaginary world.

That was it. A child’s imagination! Absolutely fascinating. When my kids were small I didn’t have so much time to spend with them. Now it is different. And I am learning many things from the grandchildren. Their range of knowledge is so much higher than mine at their age.

Recently, while preparing the post Photos: More of pastoral Olavipe

I couldn’t get the right word for frog’s eggs. Usually in such situations I ask my wife. (That is easier than looking up dictionary.com.) In this instance she couldn’t recall either.

Nonee who was overhearing cut in: Why don’t you ask me? I did that and pat came the answer: Spawn.

A year back this granddaughter showed me how to unlock parental lock on TV. No one had thought of setting a code, so it is ‘0000’. Now we must change that.

Later this month Nonee would be 10.

Also see:

My Valentine’s Day

Photos: Grandchildren

These are file photos of Adithya and Archana, children of my daughter Rosemary and her husband KO Isaac. They were taken at various locations, years ago.

Me and the grandchildren after some function.

On the beach....

14 now, Archana is good at Bharathanatyam.
See Dances for the gods
But her forte seems to be Carnatic music. She has already done 20 odd kirtans.
Her Guru seems to be pleased with her.

Enter the Dragon... Adithya is now an engineering student.

What was the brother whispering in the sister's ear?

Click on photos to enlarge. Copyright reserved.