Post 61: Growing Old Gratefully!

THE GOLDILOCKS GRANDMA

I feel like a ‘Goldilocks’ Grandma
Having reached my eightieth year
And part of that generation
That the State and our country held dear

My childhood was blessed by protection
From poverty, hunger and fear
I grew up with blissful assumptions
That all that I needed was near

I’m old enough to remember
The rationing after the war
Delicious dried egg in large silver cans
And orange juice, too thick to pour

At school I received education
That now seems to be rarely taught
Like cookery, drama and music
Gymnastics and out of doors sport

And though I am old I remember
School dinners cooked in the canteen
Which were delicious and wholesome
With no UPFs to be seen

My teen years were fun and fulfilling
No trauma attended my play
Our choices were many and varied
And we always had plenty to say

I married with never a worry
That there was no money for frills
I trusted the state to step up to the plate
And be there to cope with life’s ills

We raised our three beautiful children
In this welcoming country of Wales
Who enjoyed an untrammeled childhood
Despite the rain and the gales!

And now that I’m into my eighties
I hope that my grandchildren see
That life is worth all the living
And delivers the best that can be

 

I’m still getting over the palpable feeling of relief instigated by the election result! And that is the only political comment I intend to make on this, or future posts. Instead I shall return to the many subjects that exercise my old grey matter; usually regarding climate, gardening and other related topics.

And this poem attempts to convey, at the very least, the trepidation I feel for the generations to come; and how they will cope with what’s coming down the line. Already we hear and see and read of major trauma suffered by our global youth; usually exacerbated by mendacious and obfuscating ‘reports’ on ubiquitous media outlets.

Their resistance or understanding is further undermined by an inability to compare how history has always produced smokescreens to confuse and detract from rational interpretation of the facts. There is a saying ‘ignorance is bliss’; which I used to think was thoughtless thinking at best. But now I am glad that my youthful consciousness consisted of a large dollop of optimistic armour; which has now, mainly peeled away, leaving me, hopefully, with the strength of knowledge; and the ability to see problems for what they are.

Today’s generations don’t seem to enjoy the protective luxury of ‘not knowing’. Instead they are bombarded continuously with ‘fake facts’; mostly via that addictive accessory, the smart phone. In my youth I formed opinions gleaned from adults; some of which I took on board, but often disputed with my parents and adult peers; a youthful and natural reaction, necessary for critical and thoughtful discussion.

I’m finding it hard to accurately pin down what I most dread about how we are rearing and educating the generations to come. The apparent rise of right wing opinions in the young across the globe are fed, as they always have been, by need of basic rights; food, shelter, education and the freedom from fear of persecution of independent thinking. The carrot and stick approach that Fascist ideologies underwrite are simple concepts for the unthinking to take on board; and even more difficult for young growing minds to ignore; bombarded as they are by opinions that produce negative reactions, but no positive results.

This subject could run and run; and will probably turn up again in future posts. To the young among you, who I hope might be reading this old woman’s take on the subject, I would suggest one action that might protect you from hurrying down the wrong tunnel, when trying to decide if something you’ve read or seen on that ever present media is correct. Fact check. Look into the whys and wherefores of what you are seeing or reading.

In a previous life, as a journalist, and now as an ancient blogger, I make sure that what I am passing onto my readers is as true as it can be, when relying on thoughtful and correct sources of information. Always critically check out other voices and choices, before you jump to conclusions. At least then you can feel confident that you are ‘going forward’ with that armoury of historical correctness.