LETTER OF RESIGNATION
responsibilities of an 8-year-old again. But golly,
I STILL think McDonald's is a four-star restaurant.
And I still like mud puddles. And M&M's. I can still
sit under a big oak tree and watch pictures in the
clouds, only now I do it with my grandchildren.
So maybe the lemonade stand was for the PTA or
the church bazaar instead of just for me...I still
enjoyed doing it. I don't know if I really want to
return to a time when life was simple; when all
I knew were nursery rhymes, I hadn't yet read
Shakespeare or Wordsworth. I still don't know
what I don't know...but I am really glad that I
know what I do.
I guess it would be nice to be blissfully
unaware of all the things that might make me
worried or upset. But then I wouldn't know
enough to do something about them. Yes,
I do know now that the world isn't always
fair, that not everyone is as honest or as
good as they could be. But I STILL believe
that ANYTHING is possible.
I'm not sure I want to be oblivious to the
complexities of life. That's what life is.
I still get excited by the little things, and I
still live pretty simple. If the computer
crashes, I can do it the way I did it before
I had the computer. There may never be
quite as much money in the bank as I would
like, but I have enough to get by, and
sometimes a little left over for others. Sure,
I could do without illness, and loss of loved
ones, but even the littlest kid feels that
kind of pain.
I DO believe in the power of smiles, hugs,
a kind word, truth, justice, peace, dreams,
imagination, mankind, and making angels
in the snow. Just ask my grandkids!
Sure, I often wish I was younger, thinner,
richer, and healthier. I wish my eyes could
see better, my face had a few less wrinkles,
and that my knees didn't make so much noise
when I walk. But my arms are still strong
enough to rock my newest granddaughter,
and to play catch with my little grandson,
and to bake cookies for them all. If I were
8 years old again, I would have to give
up so much....including all those
grandkids. And I don't think ANYTHING
could compensate for THAT joy.
So if it's okay with you, I think I'll just hang
on to my checkbook...there might be a little
left over to buy some toys for the Christmas
store for the needy little kids who wouldn't
have anything otherwise. And my car keys....
there's a load of clothes to drive down to the
homeless shelter, and how else would I get
the grandkids to the Children's Museum
or the zoo? No, I don't think I will resign
from adulthood just yet.
And if you hear someone yelling "Tag!
You're It!", it will probably be me, out in
the backyard, playing with those grandkids.
THAT'S how I remember the simpler things
in life. That's what life is all about.
......Grandma Lyn, 1999
