The Paper Tree In 1986 I took my three year old grandson to Kentucky for a visit. I wrote his name on a shirt including the phone number for home and for Kentucky. I wanted to make sure he would be safe; of course it was an undershirt. He thought it was the greatest thing. I found a child’s leash, as I would be carrying the luggage. I was thinking of all safety things to do, so we could also have fun. Duane had his little suit case with special toys and his little red suit case read “Going to Grandma’s” So off we went to the airport for our adventure on the big plane. Duane walked so proud, even with people giving us the eye for me having him on a leash. But I felt good that I could let him be big and safe. He played with his toys on the airplane and looked out the window. The cars and houses were so small. He got his wings and a special color book. He really was very good for being so little. We arrived in Nashville TN airport and we had someone waiting to pick us up and take us up to Bowling Green, KY. Everything was exciting for Duane. We had a map to show him where we were. Once we got to Grandma’s house, (my Grandma’s) He was ready for a rest, after lots of hugs of course. This was his Great Great Grandma Mae’s and Great Great Grandpa James home, and he was the apple of their eyes from the beginning. The year before this my Dad had passed away so this was really wonderful for my Grandparents. My Step mom had bought a home a few blocks away, so we went down to visit her and her grand children. There was a house full, Duane loved it. He struck up a friendship with Josh who was closest to his age. Duane called him “Gosh”. Some mornings we would go for a walk to the playground and to Gosh’s house for him to play. One morning Duane got out of the house without me, I must have been in the bathroom or cooking. But he was not in site, the house was checked well, the back and front yard, down the street. Then I walked to the play ground, no Duane. So I walked to my Step mom’s, there he was!! My Step mom had called the house but I was already out the door looking for him. He said “I just wanted to play with Gosh”. We didn’t have a Christmas tree at Great Grand parents, so one afternoon he and I and Great Grandma Mae set down with books and paper. We cut out pretties to hang on the tree and cut lights out of colored paper. We cut out a yellow star for the top of the tree, and glued it all on. We even cut strips and made a chain for the tree. When we were done, we hung it on the front door. There on Christmas morning he found gifts. He really was excited and happy. Then of course we had to go to Gosh’s. There he got another gift or so, and got to play with Gosh. This was my best Christmas, and Duane talked about that Christmas for years and how he got to help make his own Christmas tree. This was also my first Christmas I ever got to spend with my Grandparents. It made them so happy for us to be there.