What'd You Do In The War, Grandpa?

I notice no one ever wants to know about anyone else's childhood. I always grew up hearing about all the stuff you'd be able to tell your grandchildren. And all that.

But I personally never meet anyone who goes, "What'd you used to do" at such and such a time? Like when you were a kid. Or a teenager. No one is especially interested.

I struck up a conversation with a guy about my age -- he's two years older -- meaning he was an older teen in the '60s. He was looking fairly more worse off than I, having had a stroke and needing to use a cane. I'm blessed in that I haven't had a stroke ... yet ... and if my doctor knows what he's talking about, there's not one in the near future.

Anyway, there he was, sitting there. And I got into a conversation with him. And asked him about what he was up to in the '60s. He still has his hair down, almost like a Beatles haircut, which doesn't necessarily look that great on an older guy, but it indicates something about what he was probably into 40-45 years ago.

When I asked him about this, he looked very happy. Got a smile on his face. I said something about "kids like us," etc., and he was happy to say a few things about what he was doing as a kid, how he met a particular girl, etc. Very happy.

Why would he be so happy? Because no one is interested. I don't know him but I'd bet there's not one other person in the last 10 years who's come up to him and asked about his past, what he was doing way back when.

So if you want to make someone happy ... try it ... get them aside and be interested in what they were doing when they were young ... people really want to tell you ... and you'll probably have a friend for life.

I Saw The Future Walk By Today

The future walked by today in this sense: I saw a young man and a young woman walking by. Both maybe 17-19, looking healthy. She caught my eye, definitely, with very blond hair. He was a nice looking guy. I noticed them when I saw her go up in the air, which happened because he was helping her get over a wet/muddy spot on the sidewalk. He picked her up a little bit and helped her across, then set her down. They both sidestepped another wet/muddy spot and went on their way, with my view blocked in seconds by a building.

I definitely thought there goes the future. Let's say they settle down together, have children, grandchildren, the whole thing. All those kids are still in their loins -- I love that expression (it's biblical) -- and don't know what they're in for. Dad's picking up Mom. They're young enough at this point to frolic right through the mud spots but Dad was chivalrous in those days. Very fresh. Maybe he was really glad for the mud spots. Anything to get his hands on Mom.

The kids I saw -- again, in their loins -- would love to come back to this moment and see what I saw. They were so young, so cute. It'd be a great picture for their family album. A beautiful day back in 2009 and Mom looked great!

Of course maybe it'll never happen, at least with those particular loins together. Maybe they're not that serious, maybe they'll split up, maybe no kids.

But I think it'll happen. I'm calling it a done deal. All those generations are coming.