My Parents' Parents

I had lunch with a friend from church a couple days ago. We served on the pastor nominating committee together for two years, and a friendship formed. Since he's retired and I have some free time right now, it made sense to grab a bite together and catch up. The time was well spent and I certainly enjoyed the company and the conversation. It's what you would consider a "cross-generational" friendship; he is more than twice my age. We obviously are in different stages of life, but it is those differences and experiences that make our friendship unique.

Our time over lunch reminded me of something related to this that's been on my mind recently -- my grandparents. I've lost each of them over the past three decades. Between the two sets, I knew my mother's parents better than I knew my dad's for a couple reasons. One, they lived near by our family, and second, my father's father (we called him "Yeh Yeh") passed away when I was five years old. But I knew each of them as well as a grandchild can know their grandparent I suppose. For that I am grateful.

Having said that, now that I'm older, I find myself wishing that they were still around so I could have gotten to know them better as an adult. I wish I could ask them the questions I didn't know to ask as a child. What it was like to grow up in China? What was it like to to have lived nearly a century ago? How did you two meet? What's been memorable about your life? Your biggest regret? What was my parent like? It's this that saddens me the most -- I have a million questions, and no possible way to get the answers to get to know them better. All that I have are the stories that are shared among family members, and the memories of childhood long ago.

I write this post not to dampen the mood, but as reminder to those of you out there who still have grandparents; if you haven't already, go and give them a call. Or a visit. And a hug. Maybe brew a pot of coffee and turn off the tv/computer/phone and chat for a while. My guess it will be well worth the time.

I would add more pics, but these were the only two I could find.