Don’t See Me!

 While her better half is in California making daily dump runs  and loading the final northeast bound pile of “essentials” (including a baby grand piano), Granny Hat has been enjoying some summer thunder showers and the Dance of the Fire Flies in tropical, emerald-green Tennessee! She has a great excuse for skipping out on the truly horrendous task of finishing off the lifting and hauling. Grandchild #12 made his appearance on July 17 and Granny Hat did what grannies do best, fly across the country with a suitcase full of surprises for Lachlan and his three big sisters.

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Granny always learns so much from her grandkids. Tucked away in their childlike philosophy are pearls of wisdom and candid frankness that is like a breath of fresh air. 

Granny knows better, but her granddaughters had to help her learn all over again that small children don’t like Casseroles. The very name makes them suspicious.  And then, of course, there are too many diced ingredients all whomped up together; green specs that could be onions, cilantro or seaweed even! and that cream sauce slathered all over everything is most likely hiding secret things that are healthy for you.  Granny tried to tell the girls that chicken nuggets and the universal red dipping sauce that goes with them have lurking slimy things in them too but they flat out refused to believe her! 

See, Granny grew up in the golden age of church potlucks where casseroles reigned supreme. There were tuna casseroles, 7 layered bean surprise, dishes featuring Velveeta cheese and various mystery meats, jello fluff salads made with cottage cheese and pineapple!  No wonder the lazy housewife that brought a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken was instantly popular.  A child with any smarts at all learned the hard way to pay attention to who was carrying in each casserole. Some cooks you trusted, others not so much. Today’s children aren’t as familiar with the genre of the “covered mystery dish”. There are too many places like Chipotle or Mod Pizza where you can have your meal made with the ingredients of your choice while you watch!

Anyway, the other night Granny decided to make an Enchilada Casserole with some rich home made chicken broth. In hindsight, she should have called it Quesadilla Surprise or Tortilla ‘n Cheese. The minute the word “casserole” was heard, the eyebrows went up and the questions came pouring in: “What else will be served for dinner on the side?” “How much do we HAVE to eat?” “Is there dessert?” “What if I’m still full from lunch?”

They were told to eat everything on their plate and be thankful, which they did. Isla, the 6 year old, cleared her place after dinner and waltzed into the kitchen to put her plate in the sink. “Thank you, Mrs. Casserole!” she called with a sarcastic little smile. Granny replied, “You are welcome dear, Granny knows how to make many kinds of casseroles, we can try a different one tomorrow!” Sheer panic on her face!

Granny’s favorite take-away on this trip though has been what she likes to call “DON’T SEE ME!”  Two year old Saylor has a tried and true method for avoiding uncomfortable situations. These might include being told to pick up her toys before bed, potty training or eating her vegetables. When she feel the pressure of adult expectations or simply wants to disappear for fun and giggles she simply grabs the nearest blanket, plops it over her head and sits there like a mushroom while repeating “Don’t See Me!”

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This delightful and funny strategy is cute on a toddler. But big people try it too in more sophisticated ways and its  never cute. 

Hiding and covering up a matter are the oldest tricks in The Book! None of us like the law breathing down our necks especially when our behavior has been less than stellar! Think of what we could all get away with if we weren’t being watched all the ever-loving day.  And if we can’t see THEM, the watchers, then they can’t see us, right? 

Granny Hat has played a lot of Hide n Seek the past three weeks. (It is loads of fun but her grand daughters can fit in smaller places than she can – no fair!) The 2 year old doesn’t quite understand what it means to hide, sitting in plain view under her blanket. Granny plays along, “Where is Saylor? Has anyone seen her? Is she behind the drapes? No? How about under the table?” Saylor can’t stand “hiding” one more minute, flings off her blanket and bursts out yelling “Here Saylor!” 

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Deep down, hiders want to be found, need to be found. No worries, God knows where we are at all times and He will find us. The greatest game of life is Hide, Seek n Save!

“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall hold me. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me and the light about me be night.’ But even the darkness is not dark to you, the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.” Psalm 139:7-12

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