Show Older generations tell us plenty if wed we'd just listen Nick Parker Globe Weekly News A few weeks ago my Uncle Lane Keller came cameby cameby cameby by for my high school graduation I was speaking and most of the family would travel to see my nervous nervous nervous ner ner- attempt at a commencement speech Lane has always been a different guy He lives in Tea South Dakota which as we all should know is is the growing fastest-growing town in the country this was one of his characteristically odd comments They had 12 people in the graduating class of 2004 Hes He's lived his entire life without marriage or children children children chil chil- dren and in his seventies probably plans to keep it the same way His clothes his haircut and his smell while none offensive are all very outdated Lanes Lane's perception of the world is slightly out of touch and his mind grows narrower by the week But Lane has something that no younger man does experience Hes He's lived through a handful of wars numerous disasters and tons of presidents Hes He's seen more in his life than even I of my Generation Information designation with the internet internet internet inter inter- net and CNN have He has knowledge of the world and its workings that would stun any apt pupil in inthis inthis inthis this world On the morning of his arrival I ventured onto my patio to find him relaxing in the warm valley sun I sat next to him to chat for a few moments and was amazed at the intrigue I possessed for this quiet old man We began by talking about graduation and my future plans then the conversation progressed into political territory Now the three or four people that have kept up upon upon upon on my ranting in the opinion section over the past year know that I love politics and have very VERY clear views on where I stand in the political spec spec- trum Being the typical old guy hes he's a conserva conserva- tive Most of his opinions reside in Republican neo-Republican dogma He described himself as a Stevenson Democrat which as many of you know refers to Robert Luis Stevenson of Treasure Island fame English students please dont don't send letters Seriously though Adlai Stevenson was a presidential candidate who ran under the Democratic ticket in 1952 and 1956 I think my political awareness though not entirely impressive but formidable for my age mayve may've surprised most older generations due to the young socio-economic-political socio apathy that many of my ilk display Not Uncle Lane though He spoke to me as if I were just another of his buddies at a fireside chat in 1960 At the expense of sounding crass and ignorant I think that we should all attempt a chat with our elder generations Whether youre you're 19 and hang with your year old grandmother or 42 and call callup callup callup up your law in who is is' pushing 80 weve we've all allgot allgot allgot got plenty to learn from those who came before us Ill I'll never forget that day or that conversation In those few moments I was a giddy little schoolgirl that forgot about all of my trivial stresses my mediocre job my impending graduation speech and my dating life sensitive subject I realized that love was beyond comfort beyond age and beyond state lines I love my Uncle Lane Hes He's probably my favorite old person besides my grandfather grandfather grandfather grand grand- father Ross my high school history teacher Keith Wood and my Uncle Charles well maybe just the first two because they're interesting |