If
family has significance, then interacting with a grandchild, near or
faraway, manifests that significance and the returns it generates.
'Returns' imply 'investments.' As grandparents age, their 'investment' is
transformed into a 'return.' The 'return' contributes vitality, vibrancy and
enrichment to a grandparent's latter years.
Picture Postcards
During a discussion among older adults, one of them said he was having
trouble coming up with what to write on a picture postcard that he
wanted to mail to his faraway grandchild. He said he'd been a salesman
but, in this situation, he was at a loss for words.
I asked him what he had done earlier that day. He mentioned several
ordinary activities and added, as an afterthought, that he had strolled
along a nearby beach.
'What did you see during your walk?'
'Seals and pelicans on the rocks offshore. Big waves rolling in. One of
the seals slid off the rock and into the water. The tide was out, and I
explored a tide pool. I saw a....'
He stared at me for a moment, grinned, took his pen from his shirt
pocket and made notes on a slip of paper.
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