I was truly blessed to grow up near both of my grandparents. For nearly eight years of my life, I lived next door to my Erikson grandparents. The Messicks weren't too far away. In fact, we all lived in the same Ward - the Rexburg 11th. I grew up being very close to them all. I remember thinking that my Erikson grandparents were the old grandparents and the Messicks were the young. Oh how I loved them both.
I have many fond memories of visiting with my Messick family at my grandparents home. There was always something to do - especially if it wasn't a Sunday. They had a couple mo-peds that we would ride around the back yard. They had a big trampoline. They lived near Stinker Staion and V1 and Grandma would send us with money to buy candy. But, one of my favorite was when my great-uncles, Stime and Duke, would come to visit. We had cookouts and everyone laughed and told stories. And, we went road-tripping. My sister Wendy and I were invited to join Grandma, Grandpa, Stime, Duke, my aunts, Rona and Georgianna, would all load up in ONE car and head to West Yellowstone or Jackson Hole. We had so much fun. Grandma would always buy us souvenirs - I had so many turquoise rocks. One of my favorite places to go was the blown glass shop in Jackson. I could stay there for hours. I think the adults left us once while we watched and they kept window shopping. About the last time I went, Uncle Stime and Uncle Duke bought me a blown glass grand piano. I thought it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I had it for years. I was always very careful with it.
My Erikson grandparents were so kind and it was always very peaceful at their home. I loved being there with all my aunts, uncles, and cousins. We got together often. On Sundays, we all played games in the farmyard. We played in the 5th-wheel camper. I remember being very young and feeding the cows oats from my hands. And we loved exploring the basement of the house. It never changed, but we loved seeing all the old things there - a wringer in the washroom, swivel exercise board, the old window wells from the underground house. Grandma always had chocolate chip cookies for us. One of my most vivid memories was riding horses with my grandpa. I don't think any of the other grandkids liked it. I LOVED it. Just Grandpa and me riding through the fields behind the house. I was always slow. I never let the horse trot or run. But, one time while we were in the field, Grandpa swatted the horse on the rump and it took off running. I screamed and cried! But, I did it. When I got back to Grandpa he said something like, "You are never going to get better if you keep doing the same thing over and over. You have to stretch." It was true. I didn't die. And, I didn't mind an occasional trot here and there after that.
I'm grateful my children have been raised near their grandparents. What a blessing they are!
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