As the family took up the chairs next to me at the pool, I focused on the children. Three of them - ages about four to seven. As I looked over at the parents, they appeared to be a little younger than me.
Flo and I had been away for about a week and I missed our grandson, Jackson, and the upcoming birth of another grandson was foremost on my mind as I watched the children in the water. I fantasized about my grandchildren -- perhaps a vacation sometime in the future.
As the little girl came to the side of the pool and looked lovingly at the man sitting next to me, I said “It looks like she needs some Grandpa Time.”
“Daddy Time” was the comment from the man next to me.
A bit embarrassing. A lesson learned. But I was watching this from my own perspective. No other excuse. In the future I'll err the other way.