Once Upon a Time……….

    For those of you who follow my writing, you are probably thinking right now that this column is going to be about a childhood book or story, some childish adventure, or maybe some crazy fairytale. But in this particular writing today I am taking a moment or two to look back to a time in life when events and living with those around us were much different to what it may be like today, or at least how it feels.

   Growing up in the 1950s and 60s was not a time in the history of the great American dream without conflict and disagreement. There were conflicts and wars around the world. There were times when not having an adequate paying job or a steady income made life, living, and raising a family difficult.

    There was a great deal of disagreement among many who were in government as they attempted to lead and help to grow and make the American dream come true. But back then, even with all the disagreement, there always seemed to be an understanding and belief that eventually there would be compromise and people would find new ways to understanding each other and come to some levels of agreement, and as a result, the country and the dream would come true, and the American democracy would become a model for others around the world.

  Those days of the 1950s and 60s are now well in the past and while some of the memories of those days are still clear in my aging memory, I am having a difficult time understanding what we did not learn back in the day, or have forgotten, that might have helped us avoid where we are today. The conflict, disagreements, and everyday anger we see plastered over the news is at a frightening level and as a father and grandfather, I worry about its impact and effect on the future lives of the next generations. What have we done wrong? What have we overlooked? What have we forgotten?

   If you have followed any of some of my earlier postings, you may remember that often I refer to the “baby boomer” generation, the generation for which I am a part. But one only needs to read the obituary pages of the local papers to discover that many of the names on those pages were members of the “boomers,” and that their life experiences, memories, and learnings of that time are becoming fewer in number.

   The history and growth of our country does read like a book, a “once upon a time  story book”, where each and every person plays a part in its growth and development. Looking back, there have been a number of opportunities where lessons could have been learned, but recently, in some cases, it appears as though those lessons were either overlooked or forgotten and we currently struggle with what appears to be a time of distrust  and dislike for anything or anyone that does not agree with our individual opinions and beliefs.

   With a generation that is becoming fewer in number each year, those “once upon a time” opportunities are becoming fewer in number and I realize that the next generation will step up and have its own remembrance and memories  upon which  to build and pass along to the future. But I sincerely hope that as time passes, the ability to share differing opinions, ideas and thoughts is restored in a way that allows for healthy growth and dialogue between friends, neighbors, and the community. From differing ideas and beliefs and the ability to listen and share can come a world rich in understanding and positive growth.

   So for today and maybe tomorrow, I encourage each reading this to take a moment, sit down with a pencil and paper (remember pencils) and begin….”Once upon a time …….”