There are certain memories from one's childhood reading that still endure. One memory for me is the story of a child visiting her grandparents in a far away place. Such anticipation, so much excitement, so many hugs on arrival, lots of goodies to eat, a swimming hole to jump into, and unknown nooks to explore in a home not your own.

There is another heartwarming image from many grown women's past that also comes to mind. That's when their loving daddy gave them the special treat of taking them somewhere (just the two of them, no mommy, no sisters or brothers, just father and daughter together). What an overwhelming feeling of being special. What a warm and cozy interlude from a father's preoccupation with work and with the others in the household. Idyllic!

That's what happened this month to our youngest grandchild, Sarah. She and her daddy flew into West Palm Beach airport and were whisked away by grandma and grandpa to be the very first family visitors to a just purchased, barley furnished Florida condo. A day before their arrival we quickly assembled a set of guest room beds, and some pleasing knickknacks that said that a 7-year-old girl was very welcome here.

Our son was following through with his pledge to take each of his children (his two older boys had already completed the ritual) to someplace special with him alone when they reached the magic age of 7. Now it was Sarah's turn.

My husband and I wondered at first whether we could combine a furnishing and furniture-buying spree with adequate hospitality for our guest. "Not to be worried," our good son reassured us. We could shop as we wished and they would play all day.

As it turned out their tasting of the various offering of our condominium development confirmed for us that we had made an excellent purchase, even though we had been a little impulsive and hurried when we made our decision.

Pools, beaches, exercise rooms, picnic places, miniature golf (Sarah's very competitive and loves all sports challenges) and nearby restaurants with children's menus all made the time go by without the hassles of multiple kids pulling at each other or competing for one or another parent's attention.

Are there any profound thoughts that occur to me as I recount these very few pleasant days? They were hectic in getting a new household organized, yet also were highly pleasant in catering to family needs.

One though is that if you are going to have multiple residences pick at least one where the geography has features that are attractive to younger people. A few lessons gleaned from our recent experience relates to the need in times of great tension, if you can afford it, to have a place to get away from the daily strum and drang. It's also important because of the atmosphere of war and fear to create a place where children will feel unconditionally loved and protected. These lessons have to do with what could have once been considered ordinary homespun experiences, but which because of the lifestyles we now lead, are no longer automatic.

I speak not only of a father and a 7-year-old together on a special trip but also of the time honored activities of a grandfather who takes his grandson fishing or of a grandmother who takes her granddaughter shopping. If you want to be sensitive to sexual stereotyping just reverse the combinations.

There is a considerable literature on things that parents should be doing to forge greater bonds with their children. Of course there are the obvious ones like showing affection, reading together, tasty meals, ritualizing holidays to maximize family participation and not least important, taking enjoyable trips together. Fun-filled trips create lifetime memories of having had good times growing up. Memories of good times often serve to counter the gloom that naturally enters all lives at moments of stress and sadness.

The wonder of a very cute 7-year-old and our youngest son spending a few nights in a spanking new environment that my husband and I were in the midst of creating, was still fresh enough in my mind to get me started thinking for this column about how some experiences are never forgotten.

I am sure that Sarah will never forget that she was the first grandchild to set foot in Papa Irving's and Bubby Marion's Florida condominium. That memory will last her a lifetime.