The Best Audience in the World!

We were sipping our cups of caffeine before heading south to visit the grandkids, when the phone rang. It was Lee's daughter with a request. She wondered if Grandma Cindi would like to be the Guest Reader in Chandler's second grade class. Mike, her husband, was scheduled to read; but, they wondered if I wanted to read my story "Sadie, the Lady Bug" that I wrote for Carrington, their daughter, when she was three. Of course, my answer was a big loud, "YES!"

Three hours later we were on the road with 25 copies of "Sadie, the Lady Bug" coloring books. As Lee drove, Grandma Cindi colored a book for show and tell.

There is not an audience in the world, not even the Idaho Songwriters Association Forum (and they are good), match an audience of second graders when one of their own has a parent or grandparent come to read. I felt like a Rock Star! I was so touched when Chandler came in, after being the door holder for the class coming back from recess (a high honor), with his big smile shining towards me. If you ever wonder whether you make a difference in someone's life, just be the guest reader of your grandchild's class.

It didn't matter that I only colored with crayons and markers. It didn't matter that my story wasn't perfect and that it needs a serious re-write from 15 years ago. It didn't matter that my artwork also needed re-work. What mattered was Chandler had his grandparents and his parents present in his classroom. What mattered was the lovely, attentive, young audience.

No, I don't think my heart could have been any fuller or the honor ever greater.

That's our grandson in the green shirt next to the guy with KITE on his back.