There are times in life when I feel totally and completely out of place. Usually these times occur during formal events when the room fills with people known as old-money or those with lands and titles. It is not that I think they are different than me; rather it is the way of life that they normally live in and I am totally unfamiliar with! The other time is when I am having lots of fun and people my age are acting my age. It is in these moments that I refuse to believe that I am on the back-side of life and with that with age automatically comes the loss of a personal right and privilege to enjoy life as we did when we were kids. It just does not have to happen! Life is for really living!
There is something about the attitude of a true “child” that loves to learn. They ask the “why” questions until they need a break regardless of the level of exasperation of the person under questioning. They seem to find endless ways to create new games and activities of sport with the people around them. Sure the rules change, but isn’t that part of the new variation on yesterday’s game? They also seem to enjoy, actually seek out those who are older yet seem to have the same attitude.
I recently watched two teenage girls discover who their grandfather was and is. It was an amazing revelation! The insight did not come from some profound activity; it came as one generation passed to another the fine art of propelling food using various utensils in a restaurant. I never realized just how much science is involved. I found myself a unwilling student to a great set of truly useless information!
The relationship apparent between these individual’s took me to all the people who have and continue to be patient with my “youth”. I again found and realized my place; “Listen to good advice if you want to live well, an honored guest among wise men and women.” (Proverbs 15.31)
