You know how grandparents are with their grandchildren. There is a saying that grandparents would have rather had their grandchildren first before they had their kids. Grandparents, for various reasons, are able to appreciate their grandkids at a different level than parents. Nevertheless, it is beyond the issue of not having the 24/7 responsibility to care and to protect them that grandparental love is different. I have three grandchildren in the States, and they supply something extra for me. Given a chance to brag about their grandkids, grandparents will, and I have.

However, I have three granddaughters in Myanmar (Burma). Anyone who knows me has heard endless stories about Ti Ti, Snow, and Fatty. Beyond my babbling, I have written countless essays about them.

I love each of them, but this article is about Fatty, the youngest one. When I was there during winter break from teaching last year, I got them puppets while in Myanmar. Fatty seemed to have been delighted with hers.

However, I miss Fatty and her sisters. Nevertheless, I’ll see them again in just over a year from now. In the meantime, I have my memories of our fun times together. Fatty’s two older sisters were fluent in English. Fatty wasn’t as fluent even though I heard complete sentences from her in English. Her sisters would call me, PaPa Al. For some reason, whenever she’d see me, she would yell, “Bo Bo Gyi.” I had used that pseudonym when I gave them some gifts like the puppets. It was like calling me Santa Claus.

Interesting, about every time that she’d call me, Bo Bo Gyi, I’d tickle her. However, it wouldn’t be long before she’d jump onto my lap and look up at me with her Bette Davis eyes. I would love to replicate those moments now, but, at least, I have the memories.

Now, for those that read this essay and live in Myanmar, Bette Davis was an American actress who started her career in 1929 and continued for most of the 20th century. During that time, everyone would comment about Bette Davis’s eyes.

Bette Davis Eyes

Additionally, in 1981, Kim Carnes sang this song entitled Bette Davis Eyes.

Fatty’s eyes are far better than Bette Davis’ eyes at least from this grandfather’s perspective. Fatty, Snow, and Ti Ti are loved by me. However, it has haunted me about what happened to me from my first trip to Myanmar five years ago.

If that first trip changed me, my family radically changed me on my second trip.

While I haven’t completely processed all of the reasons for this transformation, it certainly is apparent that my age has a great deal to do with it. In addition, a decade ago, I danced with death twice. All people are aware that they aren’t immortal…at an intellectual level. Trust me; I get that emotional level in my gut.

The feeling that I have, especially with my granddaughters in Myanmar, is that I want to do all that I can to help them face the challenges that they are beginning to experience. I have been given a wondrous opportunity to express my love for them. However, I want to reflect upon them their beauty, intelligence, charm, and caring that I see in them. I realize that my clock is ticking. I won’t miss an opportunity to express to each of them the joy that they bring me. I have written essays about Ti Ti and Snow. This essay is to Fatty.

And this last paragraph is to Fatty. Next year, when I return to Inle Lake, Ti Ti and Snow will greet me with, “PaPa Al!” However, you will yell, “Bo Bo Gyi!” In the meantime, I love you and miss you and your sisters.

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