Happy Birthday, Matthew!

I cannot believe that 12 years have passed since my first grandchild was born. Unfortunately, I was not able to be present at his birth, because his dad was in the military and stationed in the Seattle area at the time.

I suppose it's natural for a person to automatically assume that his descendants are going to be just like himself. I was no exception. I simply assumed that my own children and grandchildren would be, at age 12, big and dumb and interested only in sports (just like I was). I could not have been more wrong.

Matthew (my only male descendant so far) is a quiet, sensitive and very talented young man. He sees past most of those things that keep the rest of us from fully interacting with our fellow travelers on this Earth. A good example is how Matthew befriends those at his school who often are ridiculed or abused by their classmates because they are different, either as a result of a physical handicap or some other anomaly. How many of us -- even in our adult years -- shy away from those who are different from ourselves? My grandson has taught me the value of being sensitive to the need of all people for friendship, companionship and understanding.

I could go on forever about my grandson's outstanding qualities, such as his artistic and creative talent expressed in the original comic strips that he creates or his musical talent expressed in the manner in which he performs for his school orchestra.

Sometimes there is a lot of pressure being the only male in a jungle of female siblings and cousins, but Matthew navigates the course with style.

Happy birthday, grandson!

Grandpa