Image by InspiredImages from Pixabay
“So, will somebody please explain to me how videotape works? It doesn't have any kind of good sticking power, so how are we supposed to use it to tape up signs for the video?”
This was eleven-year-old Eleanor Ludlow, deeply frustrated with the accidental discovery of one of her grandparents' old videos that had fallen out of a box in the closet.
Mrs. Maggie Lee quickly came and rescued the precious item and rolled back the portion Eleanor had rolled out to check the non-existent adhesive level.
“Maybe it works like yellow caution tape,” eight-year-old Edwina suggested, “and if it does, I want it so I can tape off my next Insta-Resort from loud people around here.”
“Who are you trying to keep out of something now?” nine-year-old George said.
“Well, I wasn't going to mention you, but since you spoke up, I'm passing it out to whoever needs it!”
“Passing what out? Where?” said five-year-old Lil' Robert.
“And, here comes the other one,” Edwina said.
“It's not that kind of tape – and Edwina, you forget sometimes that you have a huge voice too,” Mrs. Lee said gently. “Notice that George and Lil' Robert heard you because you are just as loud as they are.”
“But I don't bother me,” Edwina said.
“But you can be a bother, just like anyone else, especially with that attitude that only you matter,” Mrs. Lee said.
Edwina put her head down for a moment, and then back up.
“Okay, okay – I'm not being fair and I'm sorry. George and Robert, you matter too and I'm sorry!”
Hugs and forgiveness broke out, and then Mrs. Lee took the video to the living room and plugged in the little-used but still functional video cassette player.
“A long time ago,” she said, “tape was read by machines like this, and these were called cassettes. This is a video cassette, and a video camera was used to put the video on the tape so it could be read.”
“Oh, like when cameras had film,” ten-year-old Andrew said because he had come in for the explanation.
“Right, Andrew,” Mrs. Lee said as she put the cassette into the video player. “This video is actually very important – you've probably seen it before, but it's OK to watch it again.”
The video was a recording of Capt. Robert Edward Ludlow Sr.'s marriage to Thalia Green.
“Hey – that's Papa and Grandma getting married – hey, Grayson and Amanda and Cousin Harry – get in here!” Edwina said.
“There's that huge voice again,” Mrs. Lee reminded.
“But it's not about me – there's Cousin Harry, too – it's about us,” Edwina said.
“Oh, wow – Cousin Harry, you were our grandfather's best man!” Eleanor said as Cousin Harry came in with the other two children.
“Your grandfather and I have been close for a long time,” Cousin Harry said. “You know he wouldn't just leave y'all seven with anyone, now.”
Cousin Harry was at that time Captain H.F. Lee, and both captains looked splendid in their dress uniforms for the big day, although, as it often is, nobody paid the least bit of attention to them after the bride made the scene.
“Grandma is just so beautiful!” seven-year-old Amanda said.
“It's like fifteen years hasn't even made any difference – I mean she's more gray, but you can tell she still loves Papa just as much!” George said.
“I mean we have seen this before,” Eleanor said, “but it just never gets old, because we are all just living on this love, even now.”
“I miss Papa and Grandma!” Lil' Robert said, and started bawling until his big cousin Harry had a suggestion.
“Robert, I need you to hold it together so you can help me plan their return party.”
“Next week, though?” the little five-year-old said.
“Eight weeks, though,” Cousin Harry said, “but we need the time, so, let's watch the video and get all the ideas we can, because we've got a lot of work to do.”
“I'll bring the Legos,” six-year-old Grayson said as he too wiped his tears and climbed up to sit by Lil' Robert in Cousin Harry's lap.
“Right, because now that we have updated technology, we can't possibly have a return party without a proper Lego build,” Cousin Harry said.
“See, we know we are safe with you because you're smart,” Grayson said, and both he and Lil' Robert cried a little more, but afterward were content.
The Lees and the little Ludlows all watched the love of the Ludlow grandparents come together – Mrs. Thalia Ludlow was actually the step-grandmother to all the Ludlow grandchildren, but the only step that counted was on the videotape!
“I feel safe now,” Amanda said. “I know Papa and Grandma love each other and us too much not to come back!”
“And I feel better now because Grandma is not going to let Papa get messed up in treatment by folks on Zoom calls that don't even get out of their pajama pants!” Edwina said.
“Speaking of Zoom calls,” Cousin Harry said, “after this video it will be time for our singing lesson with Col. F.V. Wozniak, so get ready to clean up and be presentable, and then I will do our review before our lesson.”
“He's such a sweet great-grandpapa type of teacher,” Eleanor said.
“Yeah, so we gotta be ready, because he might have a great-granddaughter like Edwina who will come get us if we get on Zoom without our lives together!” George said.
“If there weren't people like me in the world right now, it would fall to pieces!” Edwina said. How many bunny slippers and patterned pajama pants and underwear can the world stand in a pandemic, whatever that even is? We're already running out of toilet paper – and when that's gone, we're going to see some things that nobody needs to see unless everybody gets their lives together!”
“How do you even know – never mind,” Mrs. Lee said. “I guess this is why this house has a video player, but no HDTV box or cable – we know too much about people not getting their lives together as it is.”
Cousin Harry maintained his Lee-statuesque composure, but the brightness of his eyes showed a laugh he would share with his wife later.
“Time to get ready, y'all – double-time, and, MARCH!” he said, and all seven Ludlow grandchildren went to their rooms to take off their play clothes and get ready for their lesson, with the Lees following to help the four littlest children.