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The
"Your Life is Your Story" Blog Archives
© Tom
Gilbert
Read
about
quality family history and life story news, views, methods, products,
links, services
...and whatever else catches our fancy of personal
historian
October,
2017
current
blog entries
blog
archive
index
A Big Game with Scary Implications
October 31, 2017
In just moments, as I write this, a baseball game will get underway in
Los Angeles, California. On a Halloween Night the implications of the
outcome are downright scary for the Dodgers. They must win or they will
be eliminated in what has been one of the greatest World Series ever.
The Houston Astros seem to be riding a wave of momentum and emotion
combined with clutch hitting and great talent to lead the series, three
games to one. The previous game on Sunday night was epic with back and
forth battling and finally a game winning hit in extra innings by Alex
Bregman (a player from my home town of Albuquerque, New Mexico).
Maybe the Astros have the extra desire to bring the first ever baseball
championship to their city that has suffered much from Hurricane
Harvey. #HoustonStrong is a hashtag for them. I can only imagine how much the players for the Astros want to win it for their fans and the city.
At the same time the Los Angeles Dodgers have experienced one of the
best seasons in their long and storied history. They won 104 games in
the regular season and then made it through the National League
playoffs to make their first appearance in the fall classic since 1988.
They have a lot of special players and have shown resilience,
perseverance and Hollywood-style drama.
It's fun to see such competition. And it is a good distraction from
some of the negativity that seems a constant in our daily news.
A big game with scary implications makes for frightfully good fun tonight.
Yes, I Will Always Be Your Grandpa!
October 20, 2017
My granddaughter just turned 5. That's a delightful age and it is my
second go around with a 5 year old grandchild. Sophia celebrated the
Big Five just a few days ago and her older brother, Jacob, did a couple
of years ago. I don't know if 5 is the best grandchild age or not - but
it seems pretty good to me.
A recent article in GRAND magazine, The Times They Are A Changin',
has author Debby Carroll responding to her grandchild's query, "Will
you still be my Grammy when I turn 5?" How can a question like
that not melt your heart?
"Yes, Honey. I'll always be your Grammy. That will never change", was the obvious reply.
Just as you never stop being a parent, you also (thankfully) never stop
being a grandparent. And you know what Grands like to say. "If I knew
grandkids were going to be so much fun I would have had them first!"
I feel very blessed to have grandchildren and to be able to spend time
with them. I get to share love and life experiences with them. They, in
turn, keep me young. That's a Win-Win!
ICU Grandpa is a Baby Whisperer
October 12, 2017
File this one under "feel good": David Deutchman is a grandpa who has
been volunteering for twelve years at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
What he has been doing for all those years is cuddling and comforting
babies in the intensive care unit. It has earned him the nicknames "the
ICU Grandpa" and "Baby Whisperer" for his ongoing care of these wee
ones.
It's a beautiful story and a beautiful thing that Mr. Deutchman is
doing in his retirement years. It shows that there are many ways to
contribute to the wellbeing of others. While people are marveling over
his dedication and kindness he finds he has been getting a great
reward. The joy from holding a little baby is something he treasures.
"It's been wonderful because it gives me something to do that has
meaning to it." (read more with this story and video from ABC News)
Way to go, Grandpa!
Flying Low
October 10, 2017
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings
Coming down is the hardest thing - Tom Petty
The last couple of weeks have been kind of rough. There seems to be an
inordinate amount of bad things and sad news. I wrote about it in the
latest Your Life Is Your Story newsletter.
Sometimes when the hits keep on coming you just want to hunker
down in a hole or go somewhere to lick your proverbial wounds.
Even after I published the September 30th newsletter more difficult
events unfolded. It was bad enough to hear about the suffering from the
earthquakes and hurricanes, but the heartache of 58 gunned down and
over 500 injured at a concert in Las Vegas, Nevada, followed the next
day by the death of Tom Petty, well, it put me in a funk.
Still, I am not one to wallow in misery. So I've done what I do in
times like these. I loved the ones around me, pulled them closer and
let them know I care. I spent some time in prayer and meditation. I went to work and did my best to show that there is hope and light.
 On
Sunday morning I went for a walk. It was a crisp and cool morning;
beautiful with blue skies and sunshine, the kind of days we brag about
in New Mexico. On top of that, the hot air balloons were rising en
masse as our annual International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta
brought us visual joy. There is something majestic and peaceful about
colorful balloons bearing passengers over fields and the Rio Grande
River. It's just an awesome sight!
My friends, we must remember that this is the time of our life and we
can have joy, in fact greater joy, when we take stock of what matters
and be loving and helpful to others, especially those who need our
help. That is part of living well and can (should) be part of our life
story. Disasters and tragedies won't cease, but we can't afford
cynicism or bitterness. As the saying goes, "It is better to light a
candle than curse the darkness" (attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt).
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