Mind the Generation Gap

It's a beautiful day in the familyhood!

It's Thoughtful/Thankful Thursday and I'm in a thoughtful mood so here it goes...

As I've been getting more years under my belt, I've been having little memory moments that have come into greater focus under my "oldsterscope" which has caused me to better grasp the meaning behind what that older generation was saying. For instance, my Grandma always talked about wanting all her children and grandchildren living on the same block, each having their own house of course, but close enough to walk next door and say "hi".  As a young punky kid, I really didn't catch the

   

"Oh heavenly, heavenly..."  Vader muses

 appeal of that idea.  But now, yes, I understand!  I would love to always have my family close by, and I reiterate, in their own house of course!  It's great to be close but not too close, if you get my meaning which I'm sure ya do.

When I was young, sometimes my Mom would lie down with me to get me to go to sleep and when she did she'd drop down onto the comfy bed and dreamily say, Oh, heavenly, heavenly!  That one would make me wonder for years until more or less recently when I now understand that feeling of resting the weary ol' bones after a busy day.

I wonder what they think of their lyrics now?

Thinking further on that generational concept, my mind drifted to "The Who" and their song, duh, "My Generation".  It's interesting to zero in on one line in particular in the lyrics that state, "I hope I die before I get old" and speculate how Pete Townsend feels about that verse now that he's about to turn 70.  Hmm, I'm guessing he probably doesn't quite "get into" that statement anymore.  Oh, the rantings of those young scalawags :)

Alice Cooper sums up the "Young Generation" succinctly in his song, "I'm Eighteen".  I loved that song when I was eighteen so long ago and far away and I still do!  One stanza in particular hits the youth bulls-eye when it croons, "I've got a baby's brain and and old man's heart.  Took eighteen years to get this far. Don't always know what I'm talkin' about.  Feels like I'm living in the middle of doubt."  I can remember relating heavily to this verse back then and in ways, I suppose I still can.  Really, when I think about it, as long as I'm alive I still have things to learn.  I do have more info under my sagging belt than the youngies, but I still have generational plateaus to conquer, continually gleaning insight from those old dudes.  And, to be truthful, I can sometimes pick up a few tidbits from the kiddos.  In summing up all my blathering, whatever our age, we can gain and grow if we bridge that "generation gap" by talking and, hear is the important part, actually LISTENING to each other. Sure, putting in your time gives you experience and that's a great teacher, but a really wise-owl can also learn by listening to advice. And for those poo-pooers, the emphasis is on the listening and not necessarily taking said advice.  We all have brains so let's use 'em and mind that generation gap!  

Bridges are good things as they bring two sides together :)