Peninsula Daily News Column 9-6-2012 "Grandparents get a little appreciation"

            I know what you’re thinking.

            You’re thinking what lots of people think on the sixth day of September every year. You’re thinking, “My kingdom, if I only knew the most popular baby names in Washington State last year!” (Well, OK, you may not have offered up your entire kingdom, but you’re pretty doggone anxious about it!) Don’t panic – I’m here.

            For girls, in Washington, in 2011, in this order: Sophia, Olivia, Emma and Isabella; for boys, Mason, Liam, Alexander and Jacob. Feel better? Good.

            And how, pray tell, do I know this? Well, I know this because the Social Security Administration announces it every year, based on applications for Social Security cards in the previous year. Now, in fairness, let’s just accept that (1) apparently, parents have enough faith in the future of Social Security to even bother to get their babies Social Security numbers, and (2) that, Yes: There probably is something else that the Social Security Administration could be doing besides compiling lists of babies’ names, but that everyone needs a hobby, so we probably ought to just celebrate the fact that, given the times in which we find ourselves, people are even inclined to continue to make babies at all!

            Apparently, despite the daily predictions of the END OF THE WORLD, life goes on; in fact, do you know what day Sunday is? Yeah, OK…Do you know what else it is? Right! It’s “Grandparents Day!” Really! “Grandparents Day!” Well, OK, but if we set aside, for a moment, our all-too-sophisticated cynicism and just take it for what it seems to be, how cool is that? Grandparents Day! And if you think I’m making this up, go to http://grandparentsday.org/ and see for yourself; by the way, you’ll find some great suggestions for “doing something grand” on Grandparents Day, so go look.

            And sure, I could go on indefinitely about grandparents and grandparenting and the joys of intergenerational interaction and the “cycle of life” and have it all be absolutely true – So could you, so please do! But I’m going to take a little detour here, because we all know that, sometimes, all those little Sophias and Masons and Olivias and Liams aren’t always born into the happiest of circumstances; sometimes, they’re born into hell.

            You’ve heard the horror stories, just like I have, so I’m not going to make you hear them again. And you know, just like I do, that it isn’t just happening “somewhere else” – It’s happening right here, right now, today. It’s sad.

            So, often, who are the only ones left standing who can-and-will stand up and step in to rescue the little ones – Take them, love them, protect them – When no one else can? Yup, the grandparents. The grandparents who didn’t plan on it, budget for it or expect it – The grandparents who weren’t…ready. The grandparents who quit thinking about stuff like that a LONG time ago, who now have to relearn it all – Except a lot of it has changed; at least, on the outside.

            And what about their own kids, who were/are the “parents?” Do they need parenting? Probably. And these little ones – Are you the “parents?” Well…yeah, but…

            Yeah. But…

            I know; so, on the ninth day of September, 2012, happy Grandparents Day! If anybody deserves a day, you guys do! Could you use a little help? Maybe? OK, if you’re around Port Angeles/Sequim, call Carolyn at 417-8554 (1-866-450-3152). A little closer to Port Townsend? OK, call Heaven at 379-4421 (1-800-801-0050). More toward the West End? OK, call Susie at 374-9496 (1-888-571-6559), or just e-mail me and I’ll connect you. Just talk it over – You don’t HAVE to do anything! – But you might be surprised.

            By the way, if you feel like doing a little celebrating on Grandparents Day, how about going to a “Grandparent Celebration Day,” 9/9/12, Sequim Senior Center (921 E. Hammond, if you didn’t know that), 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 – Free: Good info, some organizations around that could help support you, refreshments/munchies – Why not? Kids are allowed.

            One more thing, to you “grandparents raising grandchildren,” and all the other kin who are raising somebody else’s kids because there isn’t somebody else: Thank you. I know, and I know why you do it, but that doesn’t mean that someone can’t just say “thank you,” and mean it.

            Thank you.

            And for the rest of us? Celebrate what we have – And what we don’t – And the universal justice that resides squarely in the “payback.”

So, what’re we gonna do on “Grandparents Day?” Right – Ready? Set? Go SPOIL somebody!!!