The Greatest Generation

I believe that my grandparents shaped my future. In a world where fast-paced technology, instant messaging, and texts are the norm, I was privileged to spend the first ten years of my life with two people from a wholly different generation. They grew up in a world completely different than the world I live in today.

My grandparents had lived through the Great Depression and World War II. They grew up in a time of restraint, and honor- a time when they had to work hard to earn something and the things they worked for mattered. A new pair of shoes was meant to last ten years or more, not ten months, or until they were no longer “in style.” They had great pride in, and took great care of their possessions. Whether it was massaging saddle soap into the leather of their shoes, or mending a stocking that had a hole, things were never thrown away. Aluminum foil was washed & reused. Tea bags lasted through 3 or 4 cups, and left-overs became soup- they were never, ever thrown away.

My grandparents were elegant people; not extravagant people. Instead of watching television with me, or spoiling me with “things” like toys or clothes, they would have me sit down with them at their two-person , 100 year-old marble-topped table. Then, they would tell me stories about their childhood, or World War II, while enjoying homemade brussel sprouts, soup, and toast.

Instead of buying me or my brother toys (although they did from time to time) they were more likely to give us something with a lesson- like a big jar of coins to be counted. I still have the sheet of paper with me that I had written down the amount of coins I had received. Or they might give us a treasured possession- such as a necklace called the “evil eye” from my Grandmother. It came with a rich story about the village in Greece where her Great-Grandmother had grown up, and how the evil eye was given by the town psychic to protect children from evil spirits and people.

Wide-eyed, I listened to every word with anticipation. They could both tell a story so well. My grandfather’s stories were always filled with deep compassion for all living things. I remember one day I was about to squish an ugly spider when my grandfather crept up behind me and said, “Now don’t squish him! His name is Fred. You wouldn’t want him to miss dinner with his family tonight, would you?” Their deliberate kindness and creativity was contagious, and I felt encouraged to spread that to others. Their voices were quiet and slow, and they never said “um,” but paused to think always before they spoke.

I have learned many great lessons from my grandparents, and will carry them with me throughout my life. From learning to salvage items, or telling great stories, I understand how life should be lived: gratefully, with joy, and with compassion for others. I am grateful for all of the treasures and memories that I have earned, and will always believe that those lessons and those memories shape my future.