Pink Flamingos and Turquoise Baby Booties
I drove all the way to Christiansburg yesterday without seeing one pink plastic lawn flamingo, which was disappointing since it was part of the reason I went. I had to go to town in the morning to drop the March Museletter off to the printer. After that, I debated if I should head on to Christiansburg, half an hour from Floyd, to do some other errands. My energy was low and I was leaning towards not going when I remembered the flock of plastic lawn flamingos that I saw on Route 8 a couple of weeks ago, about 100 of them! They were spread out on a quarter acre yard near the Radford pig path and I was on my way somewhere. I did a double-take but had no time to pull over and snap a picture. I knew if I could see those flamingos again, they would cheer me up and be worth the half an hour drive.
There wasn’t even one flamingo left in the yard. It was like it never happened. It must have been a prank. I kept scouring the countryside as I drove, looking for something out of place, something that would shake me awake.
But wait! What have we here? 
My day turned out to be extraordinary after all, because I did something I have never done before. I shopped for an upcoming baby shower for my youngest son, Dylan, and his wife’s baby boy, due in May. As the mother of two grown sons, I kept thinking, I’m shopping for boys clothes again. It was like riding a bike. It all came back to me, the layette sets, the snap bottom onesies, the sleep kimonos, bibs, hats, and booties. I was transported back to twenty-eight years ago when I was pregnant and shopping for my first newborn son. But I’ve never been a grandmother before.
Later at home I laid everything out on the couch, like I did in the nursery in the trailer in Texas in 1979, where I lived the year my first son was born. I marveled as I held each item up, folded and refolded the soft cotton first clothes for a sweet smelling pink skinned baby boy. The reality of that is starting to sink in.
February 27th, 2008 10:18 am
We’re sending telepathic messages again. What are the chances that we both have Flamingo posts on the same day?!
February 27th, 2008 11:38 am
You know there is a service in the cities where you pay these people to go set up flamingos, etc. in these first class neighborhoods for big birthdays and so forth. Maybe someone did something similiar to someone in that family. I think that would be a great prank. I should do that to my sister or brother when they are on a trip or something!
February 27th, 2008 11:39 am
And don’t worry. You will be an excellent grandma. I hear it is the best (from my parents).
February 27th, 2008 11:56 am
Am so excited for you…the fun of buying baby things – such a cool thing!!!
February 27th, 2008 12:58 pm
I know you must be excited about the baby coming! Being a grandmother is so special; I know you’ll love it!
February 27th, 2008 1:19 pm
Oh, how exciting! And great that you were able to do this spontaneously! 🙂
February 27th, 2008 5:38 pm
What a beautiful story. I still can not believe Dylan & his wife are having a baby. I so want to be a Grandmother and have that beautiful smell fill the house and all those cooing sounds.
The reason you love the flamingos so much is that is what our Nana loved too. She painted them and had them in her yard and potted plants……..remember?? xoxo
February 27th, 2008 5:53 pm
I still take out the baby clothes and smell them…and it’s only been five years since my last one was born. Ooooh..the sweet smell of a new baby!!! I’ll bet you can’t wait!!!
February 27th, 2008 6:06 pm
I don’t remember that, Sherry. Do you mean our Hileah Nana, Marion? I do remember seeing the flamingos at the zoo with her and a goat trying to eat her floral printed dress.
February 27th, 2008 6:15 pm
No our real Nana…..ask Ma about it. I am talking about oil paintings she did.
February 27th, 2008 8:01 pm
I love looking at baby clothes – and the shoes, omg, the little, tiny shoes. Congratulations on becoming a grandmother. I predict many baby shopping days.
February 27th, 2008 9:10 pm
Hey I didn’t know that Collen, congratulations !
February 28th, 2008 4:25 am
I love that feeling of new life expectncy especially someone elses – wish it were my sons familuy- they said no more
February 28th, 2008 5:23 pm
How wonderful, Colleen! Congratulations…I know you will be a fabulous grandma.
February 29th, 2008 9:27 pm
Hi Colleen, Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier, Congratulations on your impending Grandmother-hood, (& to Dylan & Family)
I also wanted to let you know the Flamingos moved up the road, after they were at the house beside the Pig-Path, they were about 7 houses up on the right side of the road for a few days & then moved back to the left side of the road at one of the houses just before you go by the pizza place!