Sean on the rocking horse his mother received on her first birthday.
Our grandson, Sean, will be entering his second year by the time you read this. He was born on June 8, 2012. It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since he came into this world. Where did the time go?
At that time I wrote the following words. “It’s an exciting world that awaits Sean. It’s filled with challenges, wonders, and opportunities. There will be many roads to explore and many doors to open to see what’s inside. My wish for him is that he’ll be filled with curiosity to explore those roads and open those doors; that he will think for himself and not blindly follow others.”
We’re lucky that we live only three hours away and have been able to spend time with him, watch him grow, and reach new milestones in his life. It must be hard for all you grandmas and grandpas who have grandchildren far away and you’re not able to just jump in the car and be there in a few hours. Some people are lucky to see them once or twice a year. Sean’s other grandparents’ live in Mississippi and they’re in that category. We realize how fortunate we are.
Technology has changed a lot of things since we were young. Now we can send e-mails and attach photos almost instantaneously. We don’t need to wait several days to get the photos developed and then send them by mail. Depending on how far away you are, that could take several days. With digital cameras, we take the photos, download them to our computers, and attach them to an e-mail. If you take the photos on an iPhone or other Smartphone, you can e-mail them right from your phone in a matter of seconds. You can also take video (movies), and send them over the Internet. My grandparents and parents could never have imagined such technology.
These days, you can also Skype with your grandchildren. It’s a great way to see and hear Sean in real time. The Davis grandparents in Mississippi also have Skype. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Skype, it’s like having a phone conversation with someone, except you can also see them and they can see you. All you need is a computer or iPad. The Skype program is free software. You can even converse face to face with relatives and friends in foreign countries. When I was young, this would have been something that only happened in science fiction movies. As I said, technology has really changed things since I was young. What changes will Sean see by the time he’s old enough to be a grandfather?
I mentioned a year ago that I hoped Sean would be filled with curiosity. I can now report that he is. It’s so fun to watch him as he tries to figure out how to do things. It will serve him well as he explores the world around him, and it will always keep him young and energized. I think having the curiosity to explore different roads and ideas, and being willing to open new doors and see what lies behind them, is so important as we journey through life. Just as technology is constantly changing, our thinking also is in constant change as we adapt and try to understand all the changes around us. I personally think that’s an exciting part of life.
I’d love to live long enough to see what kind of changes Sean will see and experience by the time he’s 21, or 50, or my age, 69. I know I’ll be just a fading memory in 68 years, but aren’t you curious to know and see what the world will be like by that time? I’d like to be around to see humans depart on a one-way trip to Mars in ten years. At least that’s the projected timetable. Remember how exciting it was when Neil Armstrong stepped onto the surface of the moon?
Without curiosity about the unknown, there would be no discoveries and advances, whether it’s exploration of our universe, or trying to find a cure for cancer and other diseases. The human race would still be mired in the past and we’d still think that if we sailed far enough out into the ocean, we’d drop over the edge of the world. Thank goodness for people with curiosity and the guts to explore the boundaries of the known world. I know there are still people who think the earth is only ten thousand years old, but I think I can safely say that Sean won’t be a member of the Flat Earth Society.
I’m glad to see that he already has a curiosity about nature. In this modern, technology-filled world, it’s important that he also knows and appreciates the natural world around him. I want him to know of the rural roots of his ancestors. No matter where he ends up in the future, I hope he always has an appreciation for the land, nature, and all the species that populate the land, including the rural people.
Many people are losing their connection to the land and rural people. They feel like rural America is as alien a world to them, as if they had landed on Mars. This old grandpa will do what he can to help Sean view nature as a wonderful part of his technological world.
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