Everyone has a story! It’s our Kids Issue for August and we have lots for you to peruse!
After reading Shauna Dorko’s column (pg 28), “Chasing the Golden Years,” so many memories came back to me about my relationship with my grandparents. Shauna says: “There’s no doubt about it … kids and seniors are intrinsically linked, just like summer and ice cream. Their connection is deep, heartfelt and one we can all learn from.” When I moved here about 30 years ago from the Maritimes, I was fortunate enough to live with my grandparents (Gran and Gramps) for my last two years of university, and it was the most memorable time ever. I wasn’t a child, per se, but certainly young enough.
After a visit to Expo ’86, I immediately fell in love with Victoria and with a very hesitant OK from my parents, I quickly transferred from the University of New Brunswick to UVic. What was I in for at 21! All I knew was that this felt right … but where was I going to live? With a very limited budget I couldn’t afford to stay in residence right away, so Gran and Gramps were kind enough to put me up at their place. The rest, as they say, is history.
During WWII Gramps saw action from Sicily to Ravenna in Italy and was awarded the Military Cross for bravery during the taking of Ortona from the Germans in late 1943. Gran, a graduate of Slade’s Art School in London, got a war job drawing blueprints for bombers that had been shot up too badly for further original use to be converted to troop transports. For two years I listened to their stories: the war, their life and everything in between. It’s time that I would never take back and it has stayed with me forever.
Stories are told about times past, times present and even time to be. These stories mix real people and places and sometimes with imaginary people and places! For example: there was never anyone called Sherlock Holmes, but the town he lived in – London – is real, the street he lived on – Baker Street – is also real. But there is no 221B – his house number in the story. So, why tell stories?
Storytelling can be the most effective, time-tested way to transmit meaning from one person to another. It’s how civilization passes on wisdom to the next generation. And it’s how parents, via fairy tales, transmit the values they want to convey to their children.
So, go on and be your own storyteller, whether you’re a senior, baby boomer, generation X, or a millennial!
