Old folks. They just don't get the respect like they used to. I still remember when I grew up you looked forward to seeing your old grandma or that unusually old aunt/uncle in your family. You were taught to revere them, and listen to their stories, while you, as a young boy or girl bask in their generosity (usually yummy baked goods or snacks only THEY could make!). Older folks have a huge love for young children. My own father and I had a monstrous age gap, almost 50 years. He was like a combo dad/granddad for me. He also worked all the time, so seeing him was like seeing a rare old grandpa. He was funny, humble and incredibly generous. The best boss anyone could have. I miss him dearly and I never got to ask him so many of the questions that I'd now like to.
Today, society as a whole, never mind a lot of younger folk, even middle agers, show little regard for the older generation. You don't see them actually wanting to see them, but rather view them as a burden. The world is changing so quickly and getting faster with technology and social media, but we're not necessarily getting any better. Some would argue the opposite. Were moving quicker, but less and less sure of where we're going. That older generation IS the LAST LINK to a time when the world near collapsed. We talk about our financial recessions, but they went through it all - Great Depression, WWII, Civil Right's movements, Cuban Missile CrisisYet... few care to ask and grab some of those incredible stories and knowledge to help us get through life. We need their guidance more than ever. Instead we are obsessed with entertainment, our lack of material wealth or social status, or any host of other meaningless things. Experience is a powerful and valuable thing. What an incredible shame to throw it all away.
Anyhow, above is a small sketch of my wife's great aunt in her home. Intelligent, warm and incredibly humble, she reminds me of my own mother who would be the same age today, in her eighties if cancer had not cut her time short. So when I do get the chance, we go see her, even if she has weekly visitors from her own direct family. I chat with her at length, ask her all sorts of things about life, Singapore, etc. She welcomes my company, and although i'm not her blood, there's a mutual enjoyment and loving bond of friendship. life is short, and besides loving what you do, you must spend your time being with people you love. Older folks have lots of love, and their time is getting shorter. So let us show some respect. share the time. it's meant to be shared.
