Hands of Time

This is your hand in the hands of your Great-Grandfather. His real name is Kenneth Edward, but everyone he knows just calls him "Keith." Today, is his birthday. Even though you have met him in person, you are too young to have remembered it, so I will tell you a bit about it.

Like your Great-Grandmother Margaret, your GG Keith has seen a lot of stuff in his lifetime. In fact, he's just a little older than your GG Marg so you could say he has seen even more! He was the oldest in his family and learned at an early age to take care of his father, brother and sister. He has been a soldier, a bus driver, a barber and a pool-hall owner. He has danced on tabletops and broken more than a few hearts. These are all stories that I have heard. In my lifetime, though, the way I know him best is as a storyteller in his own right. He is someone who loves to share what he has seen and done and, most exciting of all, he is someone who loves you very much (though he has only met you once!)

The first day we took you to meet Grandpa Keith was the day the picture above was taken. It was a beautiful summer day and you were a little finicky (I think it was a lot for you to drive so far and see so many new people in so short a time). When we brought you to see him, Grandpa had been watching news (he likes to do that) and waiting for us. Grandpa doesn't openly show excitement at too many things, but the moment he saw you, he smiled his crooked smile (the same one YOU have, incidentally). We got you out of your carseat and you were excited to be free, but when your eyes met his, you and he both drifted into the sweetest look between you. The best moment, though, was when Grandpa held you and you cuddled up to him. You don't cuddle just anyone, you know. It was beautiful to see. The photo above is one of many that we took that day.

Take a good look at your hands together there. It's important. Why? Because between your two sets of hands there is almost a century of experience and love. Between your hands are three continents of travel (you, my dear, have already been to Europe ;)), years of hard work and joyful play, and the sacrifice of a generation made in the hopes that you could grow up freely. Your hand in his is the affirmation of years of dedication to family and country and the sheer innocence of it often brings a tear to the eyes of people around you. Your hand in his not only made is day that day; it made his lifetime. Your hand in his is the picture of love.

Love,

Sdad (I actually started typing my own name. Thought you'd like that.)