Banjo Man and I spent the day with our four-year old grandson last week, and the little guy was determined to show us the sights around town.  First he took me to his favorite “parks” (aka playgrounds).  I swung on the swings while he climbed and slid and stabbed imaginary bad guys with his foam sword.  We did this for two hours.  I loved it because there was no snow or ice on the ground and I was certainly safe from all of the bad guys.

Then Grandpa (aka Banjo Man) arrived and John took us to town to his favorite restaurant, a place that serves New Orleans food.  The little guy strutted out of there with a belly full of chicken tenders and Mardi Gras beads around his neck.

He definitely wanted me to see this:

Once inside I was overcome by the sight of the weirdest collection of soda bottles I’d ever seen.  While John shopped for gummy candy, I took pictures.

I didn’t know Rhode Island had its own brand of soda. I thought we were famous for Dell’s Lemonade!

Something for Dancing Mandolin Player.

Do you drink it for breakfast????

Do you take it to cookouts?

Football game soda!!!!!

Jackson Hole Cowboy Cream Soda. Now **that** looks drinkable. Except the cowboy himself looks a little odd.

When you’re feeling hostile and just want to drink alone.

Hmmmmm…..

Hey, Idaho! Should we make Huckleberry soda next summer???

And then there were other strange things, like these.

After we bought gummies shaped like alligators and turtles and fish, we headed back to the house.  I hoped John would take a nap.  I even fixed the couch in what I hoped was an enticing display:

That didn’t work, so I took a nap myself.

And then Banjo Man took a nap.

And John and I sang songs and drummed for three hours.

Yes, THREE HOURS.

My grandson is a huge Beatles fan.  He was very surprised that his grandmother knew all the words to the Beatles songs.  I think I went up a few points and he decided I was worthy to sing with him.

And sing we did.

I’m glad those years–and thousands of hours–with my record player finally paid off.