by C. Christensen

I was a little over twenty months old the first time I walked on my own. Usually walking varied from nine months to eighteen months, so I was a little out of the norm. My Mommy will tell you that I was out of the norm since I had been born, as I came in sideways and had to be delivered via a c-section.

During the holidays of 2006, my family was going through a lot of stress. It started on Thanksgiving when my Papa and Gramma Fox were unable to attend the Thanksgiving dinner my auntie Trish made because my Gramma Fox was getting sick again. My Mommy spent most of the week before and after Christmas at the hospital with Gramma. She was making sure my Gramma knew how much we all loved her and would miss her when she went to heaven.

Gramma passed away the day after Christmas. My Mommy cried a lot that day and brought me to the hospital so I could say goodbye to Gramma. My papa and Gramma Christensen took me to stay with them that Friday, so mommy could say goodbye to Gramma with her brother's and sister. The funeral was the next day. My Gramma and Papa Christensen packed a snack for me and we set out to go to the funeral. We arrived at church and Mommy and Daddy were there. Mommy was really sad.

I did sit with them for a bit, but got really bored with the whole thing. Daddy brought me to my Gramma and Papa Christensen, who were sitting a couple of rows behind us. hey brought me out to the gathering area of the church and that is when I saw her – my Gramma Fox looking all happy and very pretty. She grabbed my hand and whispered in my ear, “You can do it, Cody." And then she took me for walk. I didn't fall down because Gramma had a hold of my hand. My Gramma and Papa Christensen watched me, but I don't think they saw my Gramma Fox and just clapped at what I was doing. They were so amazed that I was walking and couldn't wait to tell my Mommy and Daddy.

When the funeral was done we all went into this big room where they fed us some really good food. My Mommy watched me as I was walking with my cousins on the wooden floor that someone said we could dance on, so I did. My mommy told me later that Papa Fox and her were watching me. Papa turned to Mommy and said your mother is walking with him right now and Mommy said I know and it looks like they are having a great time walking and talking.

So now you know about the first day of my walking, I am now almost three and walking, talking and playing like any normal three year old would. Gramma still comes to me and we talk and she sings to me.