Snapshots in Time

How important it is to spend time with your children and grandchildren

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ATTITUDE DETERMINES YOUR ALTITUDE !

“Can Do” Attitude

OR

“What Can You Do For Me?”

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We have always been faced with choices and these choices we make all have consequences. In “The everybody gets a trophy” generation however well-intentioned it may be, the bar has  continually been lowered. When I hear that honor nights have been cancelled for those students that have studied hard to achieve academic excellence, trophies and medals are given to every participant in a sport, it is just an indication of how low this bar has been lowered. Questions are raised such as: Why practice so hard? Why study so long? The last thing we want to do is discourage our children from doing their best! We should want them to appreciate the benefits of hard work and determination to reach their goals and fulfill their dreams!

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The best quote and most memorable one hung in my classroom over the chalkboard. It read: “If you think you can you will……If you think you can’t you won’t”. Self-reliance and determination should not be left for our schools to teach. They should be “taught” at home at a very early age. Our children will face many challenges in life and all to often we hear them say “That’s not fair” and instead of tackling the problem they face they  “give up” or wait for someone to do it for them.

The whole concept of this post can be applied to many of the problems we face as a society. Perhaps if we embrace these concepts instead of waiting for someone to give or do things for us we would be much better off.

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A SENSE OF WONDER !

“They say genes tend to skip generations. Maybe that is why

grandparents find their grandchildren so likeable.”

 

 

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A sense of wonder is an integral part of a child’s spirit. Yet in our modern technological world, it is easily diminished. We should do everything possible to keep that spirit alive, not only in our children but within ourselves. When we encourage our children to develop a sense of responsibility we realize these two concepts are not that different. Discovering the wonders our world has to offer is often part of our “responsibility” to it.

To often the desire to have things “right now” take precedence over what could be the pride and satisfaction we feel when our patience and perseverance enable us to accomplish what we set out to do. The development of personal responsibility and knowing that the actions and decisions we make today do have consequences is an important concept at any age!

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A LINK TO THE PAST !

“Grandchildren are a grandparent’s link to the future, and Grandparents are a child’s link to the past.”

Unknown

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WORLD SERIES HISTORY

The voice we were listening to was coming out of that technological miracle called the transistor radio. The sports announcer for the New York Yankees, Mel Allen, was giving us the play-by-play of game five of the World Series. A group of us had gathered outside of school that sunny afternoon in October to listen as Don Larsen of the New York Yankees would make history by pitching the first perfect game in World Series history. The Yankees would go on to win the series over the Brooklyn Dodgers in the seventh game. Mickey Mantle hit 52 home runs that year and finished with a .358 batting average. We couldn’t have been happier, since in 1956, life was good and this just made it better.

I walked home from school that day with my best friend and there was an added “spring” in our steps. We had not forgotten about our plans to explore the woods in a remote area near our respective homes. We were excited and had absolutely no idea what we would find.What we didn’t know was just how exciting our discoveries would be, what mother nature had in store for us, or how our adventure would become something we would never forget!

The days and weeks ahead would provide us with memories and experiences we would someday tell our grandchildren about!

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RAILROADS TO ROCKETS!

“Life is divided into three terms, that which was, which is, and which will be.

Let us learn from the past, to profit by the present, and from the present, to live

better in the future.”

                                                                                                                                                 ~William Wordsworth

                                                                                                                        

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Samy and I continued our discussion about the railroads, life in America at the turn of the century, and of course our latest expedition to visit the general merchandise store located in the center of the town we live in. This hardware store has been in operation since 1900 and still looks the same today as it did at the turn of the century! We were interrupted by the unmistakeable sound of a train whistle and the sound of the wheels against the track. The gates went down, the lights began to flash and the bells went off. We looked in the distance toward the bend in the tracks and sure enough we saw the bright light on the front of the engine. The train made a brief stop next to the station where we were standing and we were treated to an extreme close-up of this enormous engine! The experience of being able to see and hear this great workhorse “up close and personal” was a thrill for both of us.

“Wow, that was awesome,” Samy said, as we watched the train pull away until it disappeared into the distance and we could see it no longer.

“It was almost as though they knew we were waiting here,” I answered.

“One hundred years from now another grandfather and grandson might come here to watch the train,” Samy commented as he looked up at me.

“Maybe…..and I hope they have the same experience we have had together.”

I knew that regardless of the century, there was no one I would rather travel through time with than my grandson. There are some things in this world that are “timeless” and he possesses every one of them. Perhaps one day he will stand with his grandson and share the same privilege I have known. The future holds many challenges and it is incumbent upon all parents and grandparents to prepare our children for it. It is my sincere hope that we never forget the things in life that really matter!

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CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN !

Mountains are symbolic to “challenge” and there was nothing my grandson and I liked more than a good challenge. He had demonstrated his ability to see things in his “mind’s eye” and create them from there. Children show these creative and imaginative abilities when they are given opportunities to use them. We felt as though we were standing on the summit of a mountain we had just climbed.

Topographical features, landforms, mountain streams, vocabulary, scale, imagination, and creativity all come to mind when I think back to that day. The blessing that is my grandson is what I am thankful for every day. The titles we value the most are “Grandson” and “Grandpa.”


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THE FUTURE IS NOT AS BRIGHT AS IT ONCE WAS?

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 THE FUTURE?

 

Many people look to the future and truly believe that the problems we currently face will only get worse. They feel powerless to change it and believe that there is little they can do and have an overwhelming sense of dread for what lies ahead. Read the quote below if you fall into this category.

“No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to

 uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.”

Helen Keller

Do you look to the future with overwhelming pessimism and say “things will never be as good in this world as they once were?” If you answered yes, I can only say you haven’t seen the twinkle in my grandson’s eye, his infectious sense of wonder, extraordinary common sense, and phenomenal character! He is the future and the world is a much better place with him in it.


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Snapshots in Time: Dreams Do Come True

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He was dressed in his deep red suit trimmed in white with a wide black belt. His almost white hair and beard flowed majestically from his face and his spectacles were perched just low enough on his nose to allow him to see over them. His shiny black boots contrasted with his red cap and matched his belt perfectly. We watched as he sat in his plush red velvet chair in anticipation of receiving his young guests, much the same way you might imagine a king would receive his subjects. Today Santa would listen to requests from all children regarding their wishes for Christmas. Today he was royalty to all who came and made their wishes known to him!

Together we had worked very hard to make our layout a reality. My grandson was dreaming about that spectacular engine we had seen and he planned to ask Santa for it for Christmas. Would Santa make his dream come true? Would all of our hard work pay off? Only time would provide the answers.


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Snapshots in Time Reflections . . .

Reflections…….The Journey Continues !

     When I look back at the events that led me to write Snapshots in Time: The S&G Railroad only one thing comes to mind. The image of my 5 year old grandson Samy! He was standing in an almost empty walk-in closet and it seems like yesterday. He will be 10 in 2 months and I find it difficult that so much time has passed so quickly! This is when our “journey” began and it has led us to places we never imagined. Now we both would like to share our journey with you.

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