Where does all the time go?

It seems like not too long ago I was writing about my amazement that I was to become a grandma, and now, the little sprout is one-and-a-half years old and has a little brother. Like millions of my sisters, I have reached the age of looking into my past, and looking forward into my future, and seeing it through eyes that understand the wonder of new generations and wide-eyed, innocent new life. I am suspicious of the innocence though when I see the (can I get away with it?) look in little Benny's shining trusting eyes as he checks whether I really mean it when I say "no. Stay out of that box of candy."







Little Ephraim , on the other hand, has no mischeif in his sweet eyes yet, and if his wise, scrunchy little features make him look a little older than two weeks and earn him the nickname "Mr. Magoo", he is nevertheless as cute and lovable as he could be, and we welcome him with open hearts.




But when I asked "where does all the time go?" in the title of this post, I was thinking of something else -- the stretchiness of time -- and the timeless question, "what have I accomplished today?" that every mother asks herself at the end of a day when she surveys the messy house and uncooked dinner. And now I know. I timed it. The ocassion was the necessity of sewing five buttons on a shirt, a five to ten minute job. This is how it breaks down:

Finding needles and thread: 30 seconds.
Wiping Benny's nose: 2 minutes
Threading needle: 60 seconds (but it only took so long because my grandmother eyesight is not as good as it used to be).
Graciously accepting three pieces of lint from Benny's hand: 3 minutes (and giving them back and getting them back and giving them back and ....)
Knotting thread and sewing first stitch: 30 seconds.
Answering phone: 4 minutes
Cleaning up (with Benny's help) button box spilled by Benny: 7 minutes
Finding needle among the crumpled shirt cloth: 60 seconds
Sewing two more stitches: 30 seconds
Taking Benny to bathroom and cleaning up his sneeze: 3 minutes
Taking button box out of Benny's hand and putting it out of reach: 60 seconds
Playing Patty-cake with Benny: 3 minutes
Wiping Benny's nose: 30 seconds
Givng Benny some cheerios: 30 seconds
Earnest discussion with Benny on importance of not throwing cheerios on the floor: 2 minutes
Cleaning cheerios off floor (with benny's help): 2 minutes
Playing "monster's gonna get you" with Benny: 3 minutes
Finding needle among crumpled shirt cloth: 30 seconds
Catching Benny and wiping his nose: 60 seconds
Finding needle: 30 seconds
Comforting Benny who has tripped over the carpet edge: 2 minutes
Kissing Benny and giving him back to his mom: 60 seconds
Finishing sewing the first button and the other four, and putting everything away: 6 minutes

Grand total: 45 minutes and 30 seconds
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Is Benny adorable? YES
Am I getting much done when he's around? NO
Do I love being a grandma? YES!!!
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So anyways, now I know where the time goes....

China part 3 -- Great Wall

The Great Wall of China. Once again, words fail me. It is thousands of miles long. Thousands of years old. It's been repaired a few times (last time in the 1600's). Now sections of it are maintained for tourists. It's not exactly needed for defense anymore. You can see it from the highway if you are on the right section ----->


In order to see it up close and personal though, you have to go to places set up for sightseeing -- or be prepared for a long and arduous hike. Zixu was so good as to take us to the Simatai section of the wall, which has been made safe, but not rebuilt for tourist activities. Nicest is that a gondola took us 2/3 of the way up.
Imagine the poor workers who built it. No gondola. And carrying heavy rock!



Once on the wall (and climbing that last 1/3 is more than enough exercise for me! Legs and lungs were burning.) we had a spectacular view.














Parts of the wall were different from other parts
<---- this part had holes through which spears were thrust -- loooong spears!





Inside one of the watchtowers ----->
Umbrellas necessary to protect from the sun -- the heat combined with the exercise was just about too much!





More amazing views. It is almost incomprehensible that a place such as this could actually be built. We understand, however, that the cost in human life was very great.

Ancientness was just seeping out of the cracks.







Finally, having climbed, walked, climbed, walked, and taken waaaaay more photos than we can ever display, we headed back down. Since the group wanted to take the zip line, Dad and I were forced to do the same so the group could stay together (pretty fun!)










Although Zixu took us here on our previous trip, it was just as amazing, and breathtaking, the second time. Imagine. I have walked on the Great Wall of China! Twice.