Grandma called recently, asking if I could come and visit her. Of course, I said yes. She said she had something for me and I should bring a vehicle larger than my sports car to haul it in. Well, believe me, that really got me wondering, but no matter how much I pleaded, she wouldn’t tell me. “If I told you,” she said, “then it wouldn’t be a surprise, now would it?”

I had to agree with her on that one. I asked Nils if I could borrow his old truck. He would let me, he said, but only if I let him drive my baby. That almost went without saying, and I happily exchanged keys with him.

Nils’ truck was old, like something from the 70’s I think. I had forgotten that it was a stick shift, something he called “three on the column,” and he advised me to take it for a spin around town to get used to it. He insisted on coming with me, and patiently explained how to shift. I didn’t tell him that I learned how to drive in Grandpa’s truck that was even older than his! I listened, like a good little girl, and didn’t stall it out once! Nils said I passed, even with his hand on my leg trying to distract me!

When I got to Grandma’s in the Assisted Living place, she gave me a big hug and told me how proud she was of me. I don’t know what brought all that on, but she looked more frail than ever. Of course, how sturdy can you be if you’re in your 90’s?

She said, “Close your eyes and hold out your hands.” This was a game we used to play when I was young when she wanted to give me a piece of candy or something. Grandpa would play it, too, only he’d put a frog or a squirrel’s skull or something else kinda gross into my hands. I’d squeal, he’d laugh and then give me something nice. But Grandma always gave me candy.

This time, however, it wasn’t candy. I heard the “clink” of metal touching other metal and when she had put it in my hands, I saw that she had given me some keys. I must have looked silly without understanding what she was giving me.

“Do you remember the little piece of property Grandpa and I used to take you to when you were a little girl?” she asked. I nodded. “Well,” she continued, lifting one key, “this is the key to the lock on the gate up there. This,” she said, picking up another key, “is the key to the shed up there. Do you remember what’s in the shed?”

I thought for a moment; then I remembered! “It’s the little camper!” I cried.

“Yes,” she said. “I want you to have it.” She reached over to a small table and picked up an envelope. “And this is the deed to the property,” she said. “We don’t have anyone else to give it to, so you get it. Property taxes are paid up for many, many years from now, so all you have to do is enjoy it.”

She smiled at me, but I could see she was sad about not being able to go up there again. She knew she was just not strong enough to travel.

I remembered the property. It was an open field with trees around it and a creek going through the middle of it. The creek even had a wide spot for swimming. I learned to swim there, and I usually skinny-dipped when I swam. Grandma and Grandpa would join me in the evenings. It didn’t seem strange at the time, but I remember that none of us had any clothes on. It just felt natural and free. Now that I think of it, I guess they were really hippies at the time!

I learned a lot up there, and not just about anatomy. One thing I learned was that Grandma, when they first bought the place, had scratched up a lot of the field and planted lots and lots of wildflowers, and when they bloomed, she taught me their names. We loved to watch the butterflies and bees and even sometimes the hummingbirds, as they flitted from bloom to bloom, gathering nectar. I started to tear up at the memories as they came flooding back.

“Now, now,” said Grandma. “None of that! I know I’m getting old, and sooner or later you would have gotten everything. It’s just part of your inheritance, and I thought you might like to go up and see it, maybe take the camper out and fix it up so that you and that handsome Nils can love it like your grandfather and I did. Now, it’s time for my lunch and I don’t want you around when I get back!” With that, she turned me around and swatted me on the butt. “Get out of here and enjoy your present!” she said as she shoved me towards the door.

I have always been a good girl who did what she was told to do. I told her I loved her, gave her a kiss and walked out the door. I headed to the truck and when I got there, I had a good cry. I knew in my heart that she was right, but it meant that one part of my life was truly passing. I couldn’t see the future through my tears, but part of it would be with the memories of Grandma and Grandpa and that little camper!

When I finally wound down, I dried my face, started the truck, and moved into traffic. I knew where I was going, and now that the tears were over for a while, I suddenly yearned for that little bit of acreage. It was a couple of hours away, so I stopped and got me some lunch and then headed back onto the freeway.

When I was near, I got off the freeway and started taking the back roads one had to take in order to get there. It hadn’t changed all that much since the last time I had been here, back when I was 16. Grandpa had let me drive, while Grandma navigated from the seat beside me. I knew that they had gone up a few times when I couldn’t after that, but then Grandpa died and Grandma couldn’t or wouldn’t go back without him.

I found my way to the road to the property with only a couple of missed turns. There was a gate attached to the fence and I could see the barn off in the distance. I had to get out of the truck to unlock the gate, and when I got through, I went and relocked the gate. It was always something Grandpa did, and now when I thought about it, it was probably because he didn’t want people to see us in our altogether!

I drove up to the door of the little barn and turned the truck around and backed up to it. I got out and unlocked the door, opened it and then backed into the barn. There was a little light there, but not much and so I had to be very careful not to back into the camper.

The camper was small enough that, with a lot of oomph! I was able to move it the little bit I needed to line up the ball and the hitch. A little more effort got the hitch and the ball mated, then I gently eased the camper out of the barn and into the sunlight. It was soooo cute! It was small and blue and not meant for more than two people. I took it off the ball and leveled it up. Then I opened the door and went inside.

Out there in the sunshine, all of the dust could be seen. Luckily, Grandma always had some cleaning materials around, so I looked in a cupboard, and there were rags, a bucket, a dustpan and even some spray cleaner. The broom was over in a corner. I stripped myself bare, took the bucket to the creek, got some water and came back to the camper and started cleaning. The camper was so small it only took an hour or so, but when I was done, I thought it sparkled.

I stepped outside and really admired the view. Everywhere I could see were flowers, right up to the tree line! I felt marvelous, even though I’d just put in a long, hard hour of work cleaning the camper. I also felt very free. The road was about a quarter mile away and the trees screened me from anyone spying on me. I danced naked among the flowers, daisies and black-eyed susans, Mexican hats and more.

I danced until I was dizzy and had a sit-down right there beside the camper.