Crossing the Generations

^{Photo by Malin K. on Unsplash}

When I was born, the very first person I saw was...
...the midwife!

Yes, but I was placed in the arms of my Mom, who loved and nurtured me and taught me all about life.
Mom Lily was tiny, but like they say, dynamite comes in small packages, so there were some scoldings as well, and those did not stop until Mom finally said goodbye to this world last year! I would feel like a naughty child, even though I almost was at the end of my sixth decade. I would walk around sulking at the unfairness, I mean, I was a grown woman after all!
Sometimes it took days for me to realize that she in fact had been right!

There are times when our children teach us life lessons without even knowing it; out of the mouths of babes, we learn much!

I have a couple of really special friends and family from the younger and the older generation.

My late uncle was Mom's youngest brother, nine years my senior, but we had an extraordinary bond.

I used to, perhaps still do, at times, walk around with rose-tinted glasses, so I do not like it when I'm proved wrong, as I like to believe that there is good in everyone.
Yes, there is, but sometimes the bad outweighs the good.

My uncle taught me that I had to learn to shake bad experiences off, always with a touch of humour.
His favourite phrase if someone upset him, was

Go suck a lemon, and be happy!

Yes, that phrase has often helped me, sometimes just saying it in my head, but there are times when I've managed to say it under my breath, so they can't make out what I'm saying.
Super satisfying, I must say!

There were life lessons aplenty from Rulov, but the one that sticks and that I use whenever I go anywhere is always to dress accordingly, even if it's just to the corner cafe. I often ask myself if he was still alive, would he approve, or would he look me up and down, which was what he did when he disapproved?

Of course, I have a good couple of special peers, but I also have a very special friend who is young enough to be my daughter. Josh has been like a big little sister to me; very protective, a deep thinker full of wisdom, and has taught me much about life.

We worked together for many years; she was the learner draftswoman, while I was the trainer.

It was during the period when computer-aided drafting was first introduced, and hand-drafting soon became a thing of the past.
Being young and very bright, she of course knew much more about computers, so the boot would often be on the other foot. It was a perfect working relationship, as we learned from each other.

My very special friend and I still keep in touch almost on a daily basis, sharing all our ups and downs, tears, and laughter!

The lesson I learned was that we mustn't think because we have a couple of silver threads, that we're wiser for it. The younger generation CAN show us a thing or two!

This has been my contribution to this week's Silver Bloggers/ DreemPort Challenge: Lets Talk About Generations!
A huge thank you to @dreemport for hosting the Silver Bloggers during our birthday month - totally coincidental :)