There are few things as beautiful as the thrill that can be felt when we participate in true and profound interpersonal connections, the kind that \u2014 sometimes \u2014 happen between us humans. Especially when they happen between people of different generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To witness or to participate in the marvelous reality of our lives, or \u2014 as I have written before \u2014 to learn how to recognize poetry when you see it walking down the street, is something essential, desirable, loveable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today\u2019s column was suggested by my friend Alexis Terrazas, Editor-in-Chief of El Tecolote. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With Alexis, in these eight years of collaboration, we have had an excellent and affectionate relationship. Ours is one of those true adventures that I mention above: two people from different generations collaborating with mutual respect. It helps that we share some key likes and values, such as our love for sports and our desire to always strive to improve this newspaper and the community in general. We also share a desire to act as respectful critics. Of each other, or of the community in general. We believe that not to be honest critics would make us mediocre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another common share is a love for future generations. Alexis is father to two young twins, Kali and Kais. A boy and a girl. Beautiful, active and always surprising. I have three daughters, a son, three grandsons and two grand-daughters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thus, our conversations are not always about immigration issues, racism, or some other heavy-duty issue affecting our society. Or about sports. Sometimes, we chat about our descendants, of all ages. Recently, Alexis suggested that I should write about my youngest grandson: Clemente, who is 4 years old. Alexis thinks that I have some good stories with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have been spending more time with this grandson, because his parents, Dulce and Ahkeel, are very busy. Studying, working, rehearsing music, juggling a myriad of daily duties that also include a girl who just turned 13 years-old, my grand-daughter Luna. I could write a great deal about all of my children and grandchildren\u2026but let me begin with Clemente. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Barely 4 years old, Clemente can already read and write a great deal. I think that \u2014 hopefully \u2014 reading has become an essential part of his life. That happens, of course, because his mom and dad read to him constantly. Thus, the boy identifies reading as something which leads to excellent imaginary adventures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I totally agree. I always say that one of my biggest childhood privileges was the fact that I grew up without television\u2026or without \u201csmart phones.\u201d Reading was my thing. Hallelujah!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To read and discuss subjects from the books he discovers are essential in Clemente\u2019s life. He is able to repeat stories, songs\u2026or jokes. Since he turned two years old, he has told jokes to whomever asks for one. Sometimes \u2014 as it should be \u2014 he refuses. Nevertheless, he has also discovered that a story, or a joke well told, can open doors and deserve smiles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If he tells a joke to those women friends who work in the Caf\u00e9 that sometimes he visits with his dad, he usually gets a gift. Perhaps a bagel with sausage, his favorite! No butter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In another Caf\u00e9, frequented by his Tata, Clemente met Adelina de Anda, AKA \u201cEveryone\u2019s Little Grandma.\u201d \u201cAbuelita Angelina\u201d is many years older than my grandson. She is over 94 years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A growing friendship has been established between this wonderful woman and Clemente. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was not easy. For a long time, the kid resisted the advances of \u201cAbuelita Angelina\u201d \u2014 her gifts, her saintly smiles, her offers to buy him something yummy to eat. Now, I dare to believe, they have become more comfortable and Angelina does not have \u201cto win him\u201d with little gifts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At least, that is what I tell her, but she does not pay me much attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last week, Angelina went to the park with us. Clemente and Angelina walked the three blocks that separate the Caf\u00e9 from a close-by park with ease. Angelina is a great walker!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the park, Clemente went to get on the swings. Angelina offered to push him, but right away realized that it was a rather dangerous activity. The sand around the swings could make her trip and fall. A little frustrated, she decided to sit on a nearby bench. I asked her whether she might not want to get on a swing herself, that I could push her. She thought about it, for just two seconds and then, slowly, as I held one of her arms, she sat on a swing. When Clemente saw this, he wanted to push her. I told him that he could do it, but that he had to be careful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suddenly, a wonderful image appeared: that of a four-year-old boy pushing a swing where a 94-year-old woman was flying, smiling from ear to ear!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I am faithful to a \u201cnot-so-smart\u201d flip phone, I could not manage to take a photo. Still, I believe that the image created by my friend Bruno Ferreira, an artist from Veracruz, Mexico, might be better than a photograph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A few days ago, Clemente asked me: \u201cWhy do you invent stories and songs that are not real?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His question made me smile. So typical of childhood, when so much seems mysterious or difficult to comprehend. Now, as I finish this column, I can tell my grandson that everything I wrote here is real\u2026but it is also marvelous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Long live the intergenerational adventures!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
There are few things as beautiful as the thrill that can be felt when we participate in true and profound interpersonal connections, the kind that \u2014 sometimes \u2014 happen between us humans. Especially when they happen between people of different generations. To witness or to participate in the marvelous reality of our lives, or \u2014 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":88916,"featured_media":57833,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3929],"tags":[24600,24602,24469,24598],"coauthors":[23399],"class_list":["post-57830","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-en","tag-grandchildren","tag-grandparents","tag-intergenerational","tag-stories","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n