She's ninety now and I've been to know to say to her "I want to be like you, when I grow up!" Wags out there will note that the chance of me ever growing up is unlikely. Whatever, this line from Ruth Halvorson's Christmas Letter struck me as apropos: "With aging comes less energy, accompanied by certain limitations, yet, it is a wonderful time to observe life from a different perspective and an opportunity to look at life with greater understanding, and appreciation. I have been thinking a lot about my ancestors and how indebted I am to them: I stand on their shoulders."
The perspective of age is indeed fascinating. Not only do get I see how I turned out, a surprise to many 😉, from this vantage of age, to watch the trajectory of others is endlessly fascinating. Maturity also brings an ability to avoid anxiety over little things that once would have caused me stress.
Then ancestors: Joanne's burial by my grandparents causes me to think about them more, Grandpa Lars Negstad came from Norway with nothing and by his death in 1919, at age 63, was a wealthy man with four children. Grandma Sigrid, died the year before I was born. Much of what I am, I owe to them, and I wish I could have known them; indeed I stand on their shoulders. I also wish I'd have asked my father more about them.
Lars, true son of his mother, has invited Joanne's family to his house this evening. This accounts for an early posting on this blog.
Takk for alt,
Al
No comments:
Post a Comment