My grandmother passed away late last week after a short bout with pneumonia. She lived a good, long, and happy life and was surrounded by a loving family during her last hours. I was very close to my grandmother. I am fortunate that she was an important part of my life well into my adulthood.
For our family, my grandmother’s passing marks the last member of what Tom Brokaw has coined “the greatest generation.” You may recall that Tom Brokaw wrote a bestseller a few years ago that examined the lives of those who came of age during World War II. My grandparents were married during the depths of the Great Depression and they raised their young children during the height of the Second World War.
One of my grandmother’s enduring qualities was her smile. She had a smile on her face no matter how difficult the circumstances. My grandmother’s life was not always easy and she certainly experienced real pain at various times. However, I believe that her smile reflected a basic faith in herself and in life in general. In short, she chose to view life as a “glass is half full” proposition—she never lost hope.
We have all experienced the pain of losing someone close to us. Perhaps one of the final “gifts” that our loved ones provide when they pass is that we tend to pause and reflect on our own life. There is no question that we are all going through a difficult time. I do not look forward to the hard road ahead. Unfortunately it is a road that we all must travel. At the same time, I realize now that my own challenges pale in comparison to what my grandparents and others in their generation faced.
I am lucky to have inherited some of my grandmother’s DNA. I choose not to lose hope or to give up during these difficult times. I know that many of you share the same belief and view life as my grandmother did—that the glass is half full. This attitude will help us work together through these difficult times. To the students, faculty, staff, and administrators at CSM, my wish for you is that you never lose hope. I wish you all the best for this academic year.
#1 by Art Morgan on August 29th, 2009
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This is a very inspiring post!
My grandparents were members of the same generation. My grandfather joined the army as a teenager, drove a taxi at night to work his way through college, worked building railroad tracks during the summer, got married during the great depression, and raised children during WWII. He worked hard, but never stopped learning. In his 50s he changed careers and became a stock broker. He never lived extravagantly, but saved up enough to retire comfortably, partly because he was always studying, learning, and adjusting to changes in the economy.
But as great as that generation was, I have high hopes for the current generation of college students. They didn’t live through a major recession until now, but they have the same positive outlook and will learn from this downturn. Many have served in combat or want to serve the country in other ways — teaching, volunteering, and helping make the world better any way they can. They have hope, and will help pull us all through. Maybe they will become the next great generation!
#2 by Mike Claire on September 2nd, 2009
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Nicely said Art. And I agree about the current generation. They are wonderful!
#3 by Mario Galeano on September 11th, 2009
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Mike, thank you for sharing such a touching experience. Your positive view of a constantly changing world should be more of the norm. I agree with your statment “not to lose hope or to give up during these difficult times” because once you have emerged from the difficult times we can always smile.
#4 by Bev Madden on September 11th, 2009
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I agree with you both I believe this current generation may be our next great generation. They have a passion for community and demonstrate this with their commitment to volunteerism.