My 42-year-old son, Brandon, celebrated his birthday while teaching my 11-year-old grandson, Hudson, basketball in their driveway. As I observe, 68 years of life’s toll weigh on me, contemplating the world we will pass on to Hudson’s generation.
At 11, I rode my green Schwinn, carefree and unencumbered by today’s concerns. Childhood passions diverged from sports to rockets and racing, yet the expectation to “make a difference” lingered. Life unfolded, emphasizing the risk accompanying kindness.
Hudson, sinking a three-point shot, exemplifies the importance of finding one’s talent. Music was my avenue, leading to friendships that shaped me. I reflect on this as I witness the father-son dynamic in basketball, a shared language and a precious gift.
In contrast to my parents’ era, Brandon juggles exhaustion and screens, worrying about unseen dangers far from my young consciousness. The freedom I enjoyed at 13 seems unimaginable now.
Education is a significant investment for Hudson, unlike the public schooling my father championed. The state’s politicized approach to teaching raises concerns about the shaping of future perspectives, and perhaps our very existence as a people.
Despite professional accomplishments, the effort to leave a better world feels like failure, a sentiment shared by many of my generation.
Brandon and Hudson’s basketball session continues, providing a moment of respite from worldly concerns. Nostalgic traditions, Easter egg decorating and cookie baking, remain significant for us, though they may be lost on our short-attention-span grandchildren.
Reflecting on our parents’ struggles, we realize that coping with trauma has been a recurring theme in our lives. From the Kennedy era to current global challenges, uncertainty looms. Our children, now adults, offer hope as they navigate action-oriented lives, hopefully influencing positive outcomes.
Hudson banks another two-pointer off the backboard before bouncing inside the house. He has the energy and smarts to wear down the worthiest opponent. I imagine a negotiation strategy for cookies and candy already forming inside of his head.
That’s OK. Hopefully he will have the chance to help save the world… later.
