Update to "A Child's Hug"

Jeff—Saturday

Back in mid-2017, I wrote a blog about the glory of grand-parenting, and how my then four-year-old granddaughter and her contemporaries might later look back on my generation's role in the then state of our world.  I dare not think of what proper blame I might hold in her twelve-year-old eyes for what her generation will most certainly face.  But rather than dwelling on that thought, I shall instead re-post that blog as a sign of hope that the innocence of children will lead us all to a better place. God bless them.

 

These past few days, a New Seekers’ lyric from an early Seventies song of the same name keeps running through my mind: “We’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony."

 

It didn’t happen back then, and I don’t see much of a chance of it working out any better now.   How wrong were we to think the times they were a-changin’—but that’s a different tune.

I guess I could wonder what sort of songs the children of today will find occupying their thoughts when it’s their turn to reflect on the world they’re passing on.  But considering the state of the planet we seem hell bent driven on leaving to them, I’d prefer not to face those lyrics.

Instead, I just want to watch my happy, healthy, joyful (puh, puh, puh) granddaughter celebrate her fourth birthday.  She’s surrounded by love and happy thoughts, safe and secure. And when she sees me pull out my laptop to (try to) write this Saturday blog, she plops down next to me and says, “When you’re done with your work, Zayde, I’ll do mine.”

Her patience lasts about a sentence, before I find her wiggling her butt onto my lap, her fingers onto the keyboard.  She bangs away happily, then stops.

“Are you done?” I say.

“No. Just thinking.”

If only more adults would pause for that purpose. 

Next, it’s close to bedtime.  She runs off calling out over her shoulder, “You can finish my work, I’ll be back.”

That’s me, personal secretary to the star.

She returns in princess PJs saying how happy she is I’m still there. Amazing how someone my size can fit in the palm of a hand so small.

Oh, I forgot about the presents.  Some we brought for her from our trip to Hawaii (for Left Coast Crime), others for her birthday.  She calls it a fashion show, praises every garment, every card, every bit of wrapping, and passes around hugs and kisses. She makes it a joy for us to be with her.

Doesn’t it make you wonder how we’ll be judged for not doing whatever we can to make it a joy to be a child?

Here’s a bit of what my granddaughter composed on my laptop.  If it seems a bit hard to decipher, just view it as symbolic of how our behavior will be viewed by her generation, and then it may make perfect sense.

MOMMY

DADDY

HHYHYYHHYGTTGTGTRFFRRFRRFREDDEEDEEDEDDEWWSSWSWSSWWSWWYGJJGJJJHMHJJJHNYJNNYJJUGGHUGUHHUGGGGHHJJJNJJJJJJJJJJGJJJGJGJ

God bless the children.

—Jeff

 

Jeff’s upcoming events

2025

All Live Events

 

September 3 – 7 | Bouchercon 2025 | New Orleans, LA
Friday, September 5, 4:00-4:45 p.m.
New Orleans Marriott—La Galeries 5-6
Panelist, “Tips and Tricks for Keeping a Series Fresh,” with Anne Cleeland, Marcy McCreary, Charles Todd, Tessa Wegert, and Moderator Deborah Dobbs

Saturday, September 6, 10:30-11:25 a.m.
New Orleans Marriott—La Galerie 3
Panelist, “No Passport Required: International Mysteries and Thrillers,” with Barbara Gayle Austin, Cara Black, Joseph Finder, J.L. Hancock, and Moderator Mark Ellis

 

Wednesday, September 17, 6:30 p.m.
Greek National Tourist Organization
Presentation of the literary work of Jeffrey Siger
Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum
Kallisperi 12, Acropolis