A kind of immortality

I had a thought, which I would like to share. Indeed I am dedicating this blog post to the sharing and expansion of what, to me, was a profound realization. Broadly, what I am thinking about are grandchildren, grandparents and the span of time …

My maternal grandfather was born in 1898. He served in the first world war, as he lied about his age, saying he was 18 instead of 16. I always thought that this was probably a family legend, but I found documentary proof that this actually occurred. Although he had no memory of the 19th Century, it always seemed amazing to me, as a child, that I knew someone well who had lived that far back. Indeed, in my childhood, I met quite a few elderly people who could remember the reign of Queen Victoria [the last few years of it anyway]. My great-grandmother died when I was 14, so I was well acquainted with her. She had been born in 1879 and her first job was working with the queen’s dressmakers.

Of course, there now nobody left with any connection to the 19th Century. Most of us just have experience of the 20th and 21st Centuries. But we can look forward …

I have always liked the idea of grandchildren. They can provide much of the pleasure that children do, but with the option to hand them back [legally]. I looked forward to having some little people to whom I could teach bad habits and rude words. Although my two daughters have yet to deliver, my wife’s sons have provided us with 3 grandsons [so far]. Two are still babies, but the other is 4 and will start “real” school in a few months. The, IMHO, rather profound thought that recently dawned on me was the realization that these 3 boys have a very high likelihood of living into the 22nd Century!

I cannot begin to imagine what kind of world they will be teaching their grandchildren about, but I do feel that I have a real stake in the future …