The Year was 1962: My Mother Hollered May Day!
I feel like I should have celebrated my 28th birthday today, but it is not true. I turned 48 today. I can’t believe I am rapidly approaching the 50 mark! When May 1st rolls around every year, I always think of Sudie. Sudie Dean was born on May 1st, 1900. She lived to be 100 years old. I met Sudie as a very young minister in Wichita Falls almost 23 years ago. We soon started celebrating our birthdays together. I started a tradition of sending her flowers every year when our birthdays rolled around. She has been gone for almost 10 years now, but I still cherish the friendship we enjoyed.
I discovered this week that I now celebrate my birthday with three friends from church. One of those friends turned 3 today. Another one turned 11. And still another one turned 25. Sudie turned 62 the day I was born! Who would have thought that we would one day become friends! Now the tables are turned and I can befriend those much younger than me.
I find generational differences to be downright overwhelming at times. There is one more than one generational gulf out there. I was already in graduate school the day that my 25 year old friend was born. Our life experiences growing up were no doubt very different! When I was in high school, lisening to More than A Feeling by Boston, she was not even born! When I look at a large group of 20 something’s or even 30 something’s for that matter I wonder how I can possibly relate? I feel old and hopelessly out of touch. . But that is not an accurate perception of reality.
I am probably not going to run in a social circle of 20 something’s. They are beginning their careers, marriages, and lives as parents. I will be an empty nester in 4 more years. But I can benefit from very meaningful friendships with the younger crowd on a one on one basis. What a mutual blessing that can and should be for both of us!
Those intergenerational friendships will keep me thinking young. If I am going to learn anything, I will have to use exceptional listening skills. In fact, if I am going to be able to offer any encouragement to my younger comrades, careful listening will be imperative. I must be careful not to dwell on the good old days when members of my generation were perfect parents, great money managers, spiritual giants, and on and on…That of course is pure nonsense!
I hope I can continue to play golf with some younger friends. And I better keep teaching the Middle School Sunday Class, because my 11 year old birthday partner will soon be moving up to that level. I will continue to make use of technology in order to communicate as effectively as possible with technically adept friends.
As I remember Sudie Dean tonight, I recall that she was a very cool 80 something lady. And then she was a very cool 90 something lady. She led a very full and extremely interesting life with many distinct chapters. She shared her story with me, but she did not dwell on the past. She was interested in what was going in the life of a 20 something… We learned from each other. I think I will imitate Sudie and have lots of young friends!
Maybe turning 48 instead of 28 is not so bad after all…. The year was 1962 and my mother hollered: MAY DAY!