Reflective

  I'm a bit overwhelmed at the fact I am now a great grandfather. Sure I knew this day would come, at least I always thought it would given the alternatives, but it is still a bit of a shock. It's strange because although I am aware of the position, I do feel like somewhat more of an observer than a participant. Does that make any sense? I'm thinking it will to those that are great grandparents themselves. Just who am I parenting? You never stop being a parent, first to your child and then continuing when they become parents themselves. But you do step back just a bit when that happens. Now having reached the great parent spot I'm feeling a bit more distant. Perhaps that is simply because of the number of years I have to look back upon, remembering all the milestones along the way. 

 It has been said it takes a village to raise a child. That thought came to mind this morning as I was responding to all the positive comments I received regarding the birth of my great granddaughter. A good number of those greetings coming from those I went to school with way back in the last century. Many of those I haven't seen since 1971 when we graduated. Many of them telling me how they to, are grandparents and great grandparents! That also comes as a bit of a surprise, although it certainly shouldn't. It appears the village has grown into an entire community! I do spend a good bit of time with my Facebook community, probably a bit too much. But I'm happy with that, happy to share my thoughts and memories with others. I'm pleased that my community is diverse. Yes, quite the modern thing. I have expelled a few over the years, banned from the village for disturbing my quality of life. Yeah, just like in real life.

  Yesterday I was writing about generations. It is amazing to think in terms of that, while you are still a pert of that. I was born mid-century, in the last century. Not counting myself, three generation later nearly a quarter of the next century has passed. I'm writing and posting to the world wide web, a platform that didn't exist when I was born. I'm using technology that was only a fantasy when I was born. Think Dick Tracy and his watch if you are old enough to remember that. I vividly remember the time before seat belts in cars, when television was black and white and you had to get the operator to make a long distance call. A time when every phone had a cord attaching it to the wall. All things my children never knew, let along the grandkids. It's like when my great grandfather told me about driving his horse drawn taxi! It happened a long time ago. 

  My great grandfather Floyd, an old man that lived in a big old house, filled with mysterious rooms and objects. He lived in the kitchen of that house, his bed over in one corner. No need to heat all those other rooms, no need to even go in them anymore. Rooms I'm certain where filled more with memories than anything else. Now I'm the great grandfather. A old man that lives in an upstairs apartment surrounded by my memories and mementos. Thankfully I have great grandma with me, something great grandfather Floyd did not, as great grandma Lucy passed in 1956 when I was just three. He was 75 when I was born. I'm a bit younger than that, just being seventy one. I'm just amazed that I knew my great grandfather Floyd and now I am one! I'm married to a great grandmother! Yes, God has a sense of humor and a way of reminding us all of the value of life. 

 Below is an image taken from my local newspaper. In the carriage on the right is great grandfather Floyd. He is operating his taxi service heading north on Main Street. Taken in 1909 it was a common means of transportation. He would later learn to drive an automobile and delivered groceries instead of passengers. He never saw a pocket calculator in his lifetime. He neither owned or watched a television. He didn't have a telephone, feeling it was unnecessary. A great grandfather. It could be me in that carriage only it would be a Honda! And I'd be using GPS with no idea of north of south, just take the exit and turns as told. Turn north, yeah right, which way is that?