Grand Magazine - September/October 2008 - (Page 48)

Logan, 3, and Kayla, 5, pat down the dough in their father’s pizzeria in Boonsboro; when grandmother Nora has book signings at grandfather Bruce’s bookstore, they sell lemonade and water to the fans waiting in line. “I was heartbroken,” Nora says. “We all loved the inn, and at first we thought it was completely destroyed. It was especially devastating because we were about 60 percent finished with the renovations.” When Nora and Bruce surveyed the damage— the fire was caused by a propane tank used by the construction crew—they were shocked. “It was surreal. It looked like a bomb had gone off.” Still, “Nobody was hurt. My crew got out; my crew got other people out who were asleep in the building next door. I was relieved that the fire didn’t do any more damage to the town.” As Nora and Bruce sprung into action to help people displaced by the fire and to begin the long and painful process of rebuilding the inn, the community of Boonsboro responded to the crisis in what Nora says is a typical way for this town of 3,200 people. Less than 24 hours after the fire, town volunteers were sweeping up 2008 glass shards from the street, power washing the smoke from adjacent buildings on Main Street and setting up fans to blow away the stench of smoke in the air. And across the street, in the shadow of the burnt-out building, fans lined up around the block for the book signing at the Turn the Page bookstore, owned by Nora and Bruce; Bruce is the proprietor. Nora says, “People come together when times are good, but they always want to pull together in bad times. That is so typical of this community. That’s why I chose it to be my community. I live about eight miles from here, outside of Keedysville. It’s home. Washington County is home,” she explains. “I raised my children here. My two sons and their wives—Dan and Stacie, Jason and Kathryn—are here. My two grandchildren, Kayla and Logan, are here. And I am hoping for more! Jason and Kathryn were just married. “Of course, Kayla and Logan are the most beautiful, the smartest, children ever born,” she laughs. “They’re such a joy. They’re so much fun. I think that’s the thing with grandkids. You get all the fun stuff. And they love you so incredibly and unconditionally. It’s just a completely different thing. “Kayla was born with a copy of Women’s Wear Daily in her hand. She is the girly-girl fashionista. She’s always been that way. Her mother Stacie was a tomboy. Kayla teaches her mom. She says, ‘No, you don’t put purple with red. It’s just wrong!’ Stacie wanted her to play soccer. I thought, ‘Well, that’s never going to work.’ They went to the tryout and Kayla was dressed all in pink. She went out, fell down, got up, fell down a second time, and went over to where her parents were standing and said, ‘I’m leaving here now and I’m never coming back.’” “Logan, on the other hand, is such a boy, all boy. For over a year and a half now, Power Rangers have ruled. That’s usually the first thing he’ll say. ‘Nana, Nana, look at my new Power Ranger.’ I know them all, too. He’s rough-and-tumble and incredibly funny in what he says.” Less than two years apart, the children are very close. “They are completely in love with each other. If we’re out and I’m going to buy him something, he wants to know, ‘What are you going to buy for Kayla?’ And she’s the same way.” Sleepovers are the times for Nora and Bruce to enjoy Kayla and Logan the most. “They love 48 GRAND SEPTEMBER OCTOBER

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Grand Magazine - September/October 2008

Grand Magazine- September/October 2008 Grand View:�Priceless Contents Isn't it Grand?: Picture Perfect Winners!: GRANDparent of the Year Grand Central Toddler Town:�Grand-proofing Ask Grand:�Two Tired Tips on Teens: The Bar Mitzvah Trips Just So We Know:�BPA Not Our BFF Full House-Full Heart-Full Time:�Confessions of a Backyard Grand Grandbloggers: It Takes a Village Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? Family + Food = Fun On the Cover: Nora Roberts A Fine Romance Everything Was Fine Until You Showed Up Happy Big Sister Day Looking Grand:�Elementary, My Dear All in the Family:�Pasta, Present and Future Reunions:�Doubleheader Inspirations:�Grandpa's Violin Grand Bazaar More to the Story Grand Finale:�Long Ago Under the Sun

Grand Magazine - September/October 2008

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