Mom, Dad's desk, and some notes she found there

Since my dad's death last February, my mother has been incredibly brave, and by brave I mean she's been able to get up every morning and do stuff. She has learned to drive again (Dad insisted on driving her everywhere, ostensibly a favor to her but more practically an opportunity for him to get out of the house). She has had the plumbing fixed in the bathroom, taken a trip to Denver with sorority sisters, and figured out how to text a photo of her hydrangea in bloom. She's gone through some of his clothes and boxed up his shoes and t-shirts.

She hasn't been able to bring herself to sit in the TV room yet, where they spent time together in the evenings. She doesn't eat well (not that she ever did, really. Not a fan of salad and vegetables, she held true to her English father's preferred diet of meat and--well, whatever goes with meat. Something fried, maybe. But in preparing food for Dad, at least, she had some herself.)

In another act of raw bravery, she's been going through papers in and on his desk. It's a beautiful oak roll-top that Mom bought him years ago, with lots of drawers and cubbies and a wide horizontal surface on which he stacked bank statements and brochures, Masonic newsletters, or church programs; I don't really know, but he had stacks. She recently came across some notes he had written, in his neat handwriting on lined, 5 X 7 pieces of paper, about his youngest grandson--my son, Cosmo. Last month when she gave these to me, it was one of the rare times I've seen or heard her choke up.

One of them started out with the address for Readers Digest's "Life in These United States," but I don't know if he ever sent it:

     Our 3 1/2 year old grandson recently met our friend, Mr. Butterfield. Subsequently we had
     waffles with Mrs. Butterworth's syrup. The boy commented that they syrup bottle was in the
     shape of a woman. His mother said, "That is Mrs. Butterworth," whereupon the boy asked, "Is
     that Mr. Butterfield's wife?"

There were others.

[No date. Cosmo was maybe three]
"I was born on Mars, moved to Saturn, and then came to Earth."
To his father: "Did you miss me when I was in space?"

Jokes
Q: What did the Egyptian say when he awoke?   A: I want my MUMMY.
Q What does the GHOST like to eat?  A: Spooketti.

10-10-02 (Cosmo was 4 1/2)
Cosmo: "Mom, I love you."
Papa: "Cosmo, why do you love Mom?"
Cosmo: "Because she is beautiful; she's nice; and she takes care of me." (Quiet voice and immediate response)

Cosmo to his dad on Fathers Day June 20, 2004 (C was 6 1/2):
"You've been a great dad so far."

10-22-04
"Hi Papa [pause] Hi Papa, Hi Grandma, I really, really [9-10 times] love you. You are the best Grandma and Papa I ever had. Love, Cosmo."