Max, now three, is our first Grandson.
Nicholas - our Newbie - is our second.

Max, straight from the womb (he may have crawled out on his own), began a very physical life despite the fact he is allergic to many foods. He's the kind of boy who learns more from the use of his body. Alexandra, his little "big" sis, learns more from the use of her mind. They're both important, but Max intentionally collides with the planet.

As soon as Max could crawl, stand, walk, run, climb, and jump, he did it at speeds and heights that literally threatened his daily health. Cheri and Ross - Mommy and Daddy - and now with the help of smaller Alexandra - try to keep Max from crashing. I've personally seen Max run into walls, bounce off, crash to the floor, get up, and do it again. And again. And again. Max gets a kick out of gravity, and it kicks him back.

Pat, my wife, called me at the store today. She was near tears... and not the funny, romantic, or sad tears she can conjure. I knew immediately to begin worrying. (Tomorrow will be our 19th anniversary. I should know by now...) She'd just received an email from Cheri out in Seattle.

Max

Max found a length of wire, sat on the floor, and stuck it into an electrical outlet. He'd been told repeatedly not to do anything near those "holes"... he would get hurt... BAD.

The shock kicked him back, burned his hand as he kept a grip on the wire, scorched the wall above the outlet, and FRIED a blueberry to his skin that'd been stuck on him from an earlier snack. He screamed, wouldn't stop, Cheri called 911, emergency vehicles came, and they took it to the next level - a hospital emergency room. (Alexandra stayed with neighbors. Ross is in Canada and cannot be reached.)

EKGs etc. were run on Max. He should be okay. He'll carry a scar on his hand from the burning wire. (Frankly, I see that as good. Max will notice his hand every day... and this will occasionally remind him he CAN make BIG mistakes when he's NOT thinking. We ALL need such a scar.)

The email was written at 3:45 a.m.., so it was a LONG night for everyone. When Cheri went over to the neighbors, she found Alexandra asleep with her pillow wet from crying.

Max: alive, okay, a little worse for the wear, and on to the next challenge he'll create for himself... and everyone around him.

Over and out,
Grampa Ronn.