Why Write Now?
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| photo credit: Julie Edgley via photopin cc |
No, I'm not dying. Or rather I'm unaware of any immanent demise or debilitating illness that would make me be unable to address you in person. And frankly given that my children, your future parents, haven't even finished high school I hope it is a long time before you make an appearance.
But even though I hope to live a long and healthy life and have years and years to spend with you telling you all the family stories and passing along the admittedly limited wisdom God gave me, I don't want to wait just because you aren't here yet.
Almost a year ago now my father died. I was blessed enough to be able to spend a lot of time with him in the final year. I had time to ask those questions I had always wanted to ask. I had time to hear those stories of his childhood and young adult years that he wanted to share. I had the gift of knowing that death was coming and I had time to prepare and say goodbye.
But it wasn't enough time.
Often I find myself thinking of Dad and wishing I could ask him another question. There are still so many stories I never heard, advise I can no longer seek out.
So my letters to you, my future hypothetical grandchildren (and great grandchildren, and great, great, and so on), and to anyone else who cares to read.
Labeling People is Bad: But Useful
Dear future grandkids,
Labeling people is bad. No one should be pigeon holed by a brief word or phrase. We are all more complex than that.
But we all do it all the time. Because it is useful. It helps us organize and keep straight the vast number of people we interact with.
So for the purposes of this blog I'm going to use labels for my family members. Because even though you, my future grandkids know them and will be able to identify them, this blog is public and I want them to have their privacy.
So, here are the labels I intend to use:
The Professor. This is my much loved husband of over two decades. He isn't really a professor but after much family discussion we agreed that this was the best one word to use.
"But it makes me think of the professor on Gillian's Island," my professor complained.
"Exactly," I said, "You are smart, charming, and good at creating many useful contraptions out of limited resources."
And now we'll have to find a copy of Gillian's Island to show the kids whose pop culture indoctrination has apparently been seriously lacking.
Oldest Girl. My oldest daughter, a teenager. Frankly this one was the hardest to come up with. So many words came to mind but nothing seemed quite right. But she is a classic oldest child--responsible, high achiever, a bit perfectionist.
Music Girl. The middle child, also a teenager. She is many things as well, but music is a passion for her. She does band and chorus in school and fills much of her time with music.
Imagination Boy. My pre-teen. This boy has been good at entertaining himself since birth. Some children have imaginary friends, he had imaginary universes complete with their own physical laws.
So there you go, my immediate family.
Labeling people is bad. No one should be pigeon holed by a brief word or phrase. We are all more complex than that.
 |
| BasicallyAdvanced via photopin cc |
But we all do it all the time. Because it is useful. It helps us organize and keep straight the vast number of people we interact with.
So for the purposes of this blog I'm going to use labels for my family members. Because even though you, my future grandkids know them and will be able to identify them, this blog is public and I want them to have their privacy.
So, here are the labels I intend to use:
The Professor. This is my much loved husband of over two decades. He isn't really a professor but after much family discussion we agreed that this was the best one word to use.
"But it makes me think of the professor on Gillian's Island," my professor complained.
"Exactly," I said, "You are smart, charming, and good at creating many useful contraptions out of limited resources."
And now we'll have to find a copy of Gillian's Island to show the kids whose pop culture indoctrination has apparently been seriously lacking.
Oldest Girl. My oldest daughter, a teenager. Frankly this one was the hardest to come up with. So many words came to mind but nothing seemed quite right. But she is a classic oldest child--responsible, high achiever, a bit perfectionist.
Music Girl. The middle child, also a teenager. She is many things as well, but music is a passion for her. She does band and chorus in school and fills much of her time with music.
Imagination Boy. My pre-teen. This boy has been good at entertaining himself since birth. Some children have imaginary friends, he had imaginary universes complete with their own physical laws.
So there you go, my immediate family.
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