You may have noticed that “Geezer Alert” took a few months off. But I think I had a good excuse or two.
You see, I was meeting with the president of the United States of America, then touring the country of France, then helping welcome a new grandson into the world and then getting my second book ready for publication.
Along the way, to add a little needed stress amidst all that fun, my computer died during a routine repair procedure.
I received a brand-new replacement computer free of charge and then that operating system also crashed, leaving me to sweat out whether my backup hard drive would in fact bring back everything from the old system. The answer was a qualified yes; as we all know in this age of ever-upgrading technology, all transitions to a new computer or operating system result in something being lost.
But back to the good stuff.
The burst of blog-blocking activity represented the upside to having grown children — the second wind of parenting after the down years of “empty nest syndrome.”
The presidential meet-and-greet and the France trip were orchestrated by my sons. Each was a thrill for me, a pair of geezer rejuvenators.
Of course, that would be expected for the journey to Washington, D.C., which was on my “bucket list.” But for me to say I enjoyed the 10-day stay in France is something of a revelation, at least to me and my immediate family.
To be honest, I dreaded the overseas trip right up to the day of departure. Eight hours on an airplane, followed by 10 days in a foreign country — different routines, different language, living out of a suitcase — was a daunting prospect. But it worked, with a few lows and a lot of highs.
Looking back, I’m already nostalgic for what we did: touring Grenoble, where my son Sam went to school for a semester; seeing Nice and the Mediterranean Sea; touring three chateaus, including the final resting spot for Leonardo Da Vinci; touring Paris, including a climb up 274 steps to the top of the Arc de Triomphe and a ride midway up a glowing Eiffel Tower at night; relaxing on an Air France double-decker.
The same wistfulness accompanies me memories of Washington, D.C., where my son Mickey was invited to a White House reception recognizing media types who helped the Obama Administration spread the word about the Affordable Care Act. It was his third trip to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. but my first.
We got to the front of the shake line and waited about an hour before the president and first lady entered. Mr. Obama was his usual self but his spouse surprised everyone by adding her own remarks, thanking Barack for his courage in standing up to critics. It seemed sincere and unplanned. The First Couple kissed.
Then came the departing handshakes. First came Michelle. When I introduced myself as Mickey’s dad, she said, “That’s good stuff.”
Mick had organized a sitdown earlier in the year for YouTube personalities to discuss with the president and his top aides reaching young men and women about the health care law. When Mr. Obama came down the line, he and Mick talked briefly about future meetings with the same YouTubers on other administration initiatives, such as anti-bullying.
Mick then introduced me and Barack quipped, “Now I see where you got your beard from.” As he progressed past me, I made the point I had practiced in my head: “You and I share a birthday, August 4th,” I said. He responded, “I knew there was something about you I liked.”
That was it. The leader of the free world moved slowly down the line. But as all politicians — and all celebrities, for that matter — know, that little interaction means an awful lot to us common folk. Gosh, here I am writing about it five months later, for godsakes.
From there, I took in the sites of Washington, D.C., for a few days, hitting the other branches of government (the Capitol building, the Supreme Court building). I won’t bore you with the details, but the highlight for me was sitting in the front row of the Supreme Court courtroom with Mick. I felt all the history made in that space just wash over me.
But history would take on a whole new meaning a few weeks later as I toured the various French locales. I mean, when you’re walking through castles (aka chateaus) that housed royalty, not to mention Mr. Da Vinci, in the 1500s and 1600s, our historic U.S. sites seem modern, by comparison.
When it comes to travel, I’m pretty much a United States guy (see my bucket list blog) but that little 10-day immersion in all things France left me with a much greater appreciation and interest in the world outside.
Still, looking back, the top thing about the May experiences was the opportunity to spend quality time with my sons. Sam has developed an expertise in the French language, history and culture. Mick has developed an expertise in media communications, leadership and inter-personal relations. Both took on hyper-competitive professions (acting, singing) and learned to broaden their skills to prepare for the real world that awaits nearly all but a select few who pursue their dreams.
With their interests, they also have involved their empty-nest parents in whole new worlds. While some may point out the numerous hardships of parenthood or benefits of remaining childless, this exposure to the expanding universes of one’s offspring (at any age, really) is a major benefit of raising these whippersnappers. It keeps the mind chugging and, as a result, plays a major role in keeping people like me alive.
Of course, the biggest impact from this involvement in the adult years comes if your children choose to create their own families. Yes, we’re talking grandchildren here.
As I believe I pointed out in posts past, I was always a bit skeptical about the whole grandparent thing — whether it really can be a life-changer for someone in their twilight years — someone with so much life already behind them. When others gushed about their grandparenting, I just smiled tolerantly.
But then came Logan, the first child of Mickey and wife Terra. I’m pretty sure he’s the greatest grandchild ever born. Gosh, am I gushing? Busted. (I do know that everyone’s grandchild is the best ever.)
Again, I'll skip details that would bore the average non-family reader (but, of course, feel welcome to check out the dozens of pictures on Facebook or Instagram), but suffice it to say I now fully appreciate all the grandparent amazement stuff. Logan is fascinating and fun to be with, watch and appreciate. And how about grandson #2 Knox (a July 30 arrival)? God only knows. But like all second borns (like me), he’s got a tough act to follow.
For the purpose of this post, though, the point is that excitement awaits empty nesters, if we’re open to it.
The dream of many people is to retire from working full time and then travel, fulfill bucket lists and take advantage of the many things — like film festivals, art shows, concerts, leisurely walks on the beach — they had to pass by because they were too busy.
I know I had plans to take in every local art show, street festival, parade, ethnic fair, political rally, stage production, concert and sporting event once I retired. Hasn’t happened. I’ve either lost interest (no longer know people involved) or been unwilling to leisurely take in these things when I could be doing something more impactful on my life, like writing or, er, planting grass!
Seriously, inertia easily can set in when the workday and the children’s pursuits no longer demand your time and attention. Volunteer work is one option, of course, if one wants to bring back responsibilities, structure and deadlines into one’s life. I am entertaining that possibility. Meanwhile, the easiest way back in to mind-expanding social interaction is through my adult children’s activities.
And that’s basically where I’m at, although I do fill up my day-to-day existence with some writing, still chasing the dream of being a widely read novelist.
Which brings us to . . . my next post: The announcement of publication of my second novel. See ya in a few weeks.
You see, I was meeting with the president of the United States of America, then touring the country of France, then helping welcome a new grandson into the world and then getting my second book ready for publication.
Along the way, to add a little needed stress amidst all that fun, my computer died during a routine repair procedure.
I received a brand-new replacement computer free of charge and then that operating system also crashed, leaving me to sweat out whether my backup hard drive would in fact bring back everything from the old system. The answer was a qualified yes; as we all know in this age of ever-upgrading technology, all transitions to a new computer or operating system result in something being lost.
But back to the good stuff.
The burst of blog-blocking activity represented the upside to having grown children — the second wind of parenting after the down years of “empty nest syndrome.”
The presidential meet-and-greet and the France trip were orchestrated by my sons. Each was a thrill for me, a pair of geezer rejuvenators.
Of course, that would be expected for the journey to Washington, D.C., which was on my “bucket list.” But for me to say I enjoyed the 10-day stay in France is something of a revelation, at least to me and my immediate family.
To be honest, I dreaded the overseas trip right up to the day of departure. Eight hours on an airplane, followed by 10 days in a foreign country — different routines, different language, living out of a suitcase — was a daunting prospect. But it worked, with a few lows and a lot of highs.
Looking back, I’m already nostalgic for what we did: touring Grenoble, where my son Sam went to school for a semester; seeing Nice and the Mediterranean Sea; touring three chateaus, including the final resting spot for Leonardo Da Vinci; touring Paris, including a climb up 274 steps to the top of the Arc de Triomphe and a ride midway up a glowing Eiffel Tower at night; relaxing on an Air France double-decker.
The same wistfulness accompanies me memories of Washington, D.C., where my son Mickey was invited to a White House reception recognizing media types who helped the Obama Administration spread the word about the Affordable Care Act. It was his third trip to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. but my first.
We got to the front of the shake line and waited about an hour before the president and first lady entered. Mr. Obama was his usual self but his spouse surprised everyone by adding her own remarks, thanking Barack for his courage in standing up to critics. It seemed sincere and unplanned. The First Couple kissed.
Then came the departing handshakes. First came Michelle. When I introduced myself as Mickey’s dad, she said, “That’s good stuff.”
Mick had organized a sitdown earlier in the year for YouTube personalities to discuss with the president and his top aides reaching young men and women about the health care law. When Mr. Obama came down the line, he and Mick talked briefly about future meetings with the same YouTubers on other administration initiatives, such as anti-bullying.
Mick then introduced me and Barack quipped, “Now I see where you got your beard from.” As he progressed past me, I made the point I had practiced in my head: “You and I share a birthday, August 4th,” I said. He responded, “I knew there was something about you I liked.”
That was it. The leader of the free world moved slowly down the line. But as all politicians — and all celebrities, for that matter — know, that little interaction means an awful lot to us common folk. Gosh, here I am writing about it five months later, for godsakes.
From there, I took in the sites of Washington, D.C., for a few days, hitting the other branches of government (the Capitol building, the Supreme Court building). I won’t bore you with the details, but the highlight for me was sitting in the front row of the Supreme Court courtroom with Mick. I felt all the history made in that space just wash over me.
But history would take on a whole new meaning a few weeks later as I toured the various French locales. I mean, when you’re walking through castles (aka chateaus) that housed royalty, not to mention Mr. Da Vinci, in the 1500s and 1600s, our historic U.S. sites seem modern, by comparison.
When it comes to travel, I’m pretty much a United States guy (see my bucket list blog) but that little 10-day immersion in all things France left me with a much greater appreciation and interest in the world outside.
Still, looking back, the top thing about the May experiences was the opportunity to spend quality time with my sons. Sam has developed an expertise in the French language, history and culture. Mick has developed an expertise in media communications, leadership and inter-personal relations. Both took on hyper-competitive professions (acting, singing) and learned to broaden their skills to prepare for the real world that awaits nearly all but a select few who pursue their dreams.
With their interests, they also have involved their empty-nest parents in whole new worlds. While some may point out the numerous hardships of parenthood or benefits of remaining childless, this exposure to the expanding universes of one’s offspring (at any age, really) is a major benefit of raising these whippersnappers. It keeps the mind chugging and, as a result, plays a major role in keeping people like me alive.
Of course, the biggest impact from this involvement in the adult years comes if your children choose to create their own families. Yes, we’re talking grandchildren here.
As I believe I pointed out in posts past, I was always a bit skeptical about the whole grandparent thing — whether it really can be a life-changer for someone in their twilight years — someone with so much life already behind them. When others gushed about their grandparenting, I just smiled tolerantly.
But then came Logan, the first child of Mickey and wife Terra. I’m pretty sure he’s the greatest grandchild ever born. Gosh, am I gushing? Busted. (I do know that everyone’s grandchild is the best ever.)
Again, I'll skip details that would bore the average non-family reader (but, of course, feel welcome to check out the dozens of pictures on Facebook or Instagram), but suffice it to say I now fully appreciate all the grandparent amazement stuff. Logan is fascinating and fun to be with, watch and appreciate. And how about grandson #2 Knox (a July 30 arrival)? God only knows. But like all second borns (like me), he’s got a tough act to follow.
For the purpose of this post, though, the point is that excitement awaits empty nesters, if we’re open to it.
The dream of many people is to retire from working full time and then travel, fulfill bucket lists and take advantage of the many things — like film festivals, art shows, concerts, leisurely walks on the beach — they had to pass by because they were too busy.
I know I had plans to take in every local art show, street festival, parade, ethnic fair, political rally, stage production, concert and sporting event once I retired. Hasn’t happened. I’ve either lost interest (no longer know people involved) or been unwilling to leisurely take in these things when I could be doing something more impactful on my life, like writing or, er, planting grass!
Seriously, inertia easily can set in when the workday and the children’s pursuits no longer demand your time and attention. Volunteer work is one option, of course, if one wants to bring back responsibilities, structure and deadlines into one’s life. I am entertaining that possibility. Meanwhile, the easiest way back in to mind-expanding social interaction is through my adult children’s activities.
And that’s basically where I’m at, although I do fill up my day-to-day existence with some writing, still chasing the dream of being a widely read novelist.
Which brings us to . . . my next post: The announcement of publication of my second novel. See ya in a few weeks.