I have been one for a number of years now, but the real significance of my status became clear to me during the summer visit of my granddaughters. I have mentioned previously that my granddaughters are multiracial, their father being Cuban-Puerto Rican and their mother (my daughter) is African-American. This summer, because of Barack Obama's presidential bid, my older grandson (age 16) and my older granddaughter (age 11 11/12, her words, not mine), had a serious discussion about the ramifications of having a multiracial President.
Meet me around the kitchen table.
Having worked through this entire year for the Obama campaign, I found that my grandchildren were also working. Not just playing outside or preparing for football season, but actually talking to their friends and relatives about the possibility of Barack Obama being President. I was interested in their opinions because they are really the ones I am doing all of this for. They are the ones who will live with my legacy. Not to mention the bills left behind by Bush and his cronies. So to hear them discuss what I thought was rather high-toned for teens and pre-teens really brought home how I live my life from now on. From the mouths of babes!!!
I sat at the table in the kitchen, listening, correcting, adding to, and discussing with them, the Obama bid. My granddaughter, of course, wanted to be sure that we understood the broad possibilities of having a multiracial President, i.e., we CAN get along, he is so confident, he is cute, he does have a brain, he is a lawyer, the world is going to look at us differently, his wife dresses well, his kids are adorable, I hope nothing happens to him, he really seems like a good dad, Granny, he has a wonderful smile, what great teeth, I'll be glad when my braces come off. When she completed her piece of the discussion, my grandson, who believes that at 16 he has nothing left to learn, immediately jumped in with the REAL broad possibilities of a presidential bid by a multi-racial person, i.e., if I want to be President, I can, I hope he doesn't screw up while he's in the Middle East, I wonder if his wife minds him being away for so long, I would never leave my family behind for this long, I would miss my wife and kids, did he bring a lot of clothes, he made that three pointer without even trying (that was the important piece of the conversation!), cute has nothing to do with doing the job, being President is really major, he knows a lot, you don't think they'll kill him, do you Granny, he looks Presidential, and finally, if he can wear khakis, so can I!
Well, when I heard that last part about the khakis, I knew that Obama had made a dent in my grandson's thinking. Those of you who have grandsons around this age (16) know what I mean. They all wear their pants somewhere between their waistlines and their knees and look dreadful. My husband, who is retired military, finds this the one style that he can never get used to and he is very vocal about it with my grandson. However, when my grandson saw Obama with khakis on, I don't know what light came on (and I don't care), he suddenly said that he wanted to wear khakis this coming school year! Did I say that I got him in the car and to the store before the thought could leave his head? Needless to say, I did. We bought six pairs of khakis in different shades of brown. But I don't care. Obama made an impression with my grandson, and I am grateful!
The other thing is, these are teens and pre-teens, and they are already discussing politics. Now their ideas may be juvenile, but the discussion was there. The talk about someday being President was there! The idea that it is possible was there! Barack Obama has given my grandchildren another rung in a ladder that, before, was not available to them. Now they can see into their futures and know that there is a possibility. When they mentioned his safety, the only thing that I could say to them was that he has excellent security who will not allow anyone or anything that appears to be dangerous near him. I also told them that we need to pray for his safety, both now and after he wins the election. They did not question how I knew that he would win, they just took for granted that he is the best man for the job, and he will win!
My grandchildren make my life so rich, so full, such fun, that I hate to bring anything to the table that would cast a shadow, but I did. I told them about Bobby Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King. They learned about all that in school, but I was there! They listened and actually wanted to talk about the past with me. I obliged, of course! There is nothing like teaching, talking, discussing, and imparting knowledge. They took it in like water. They asked questions, and gave me their opinions. They told me what they would have done, had they lived during those times. I explained those times to them, which didn't change their minds, but it gave them something more to think about.
Yes, being a granny is really an exalted position to be in. I never knew how exalted until now. Thank you, Barack, for giving my grandson another rung on the ladder of success, and thank you, Hillary for giving that same rung to my granddaughter. Thanks to both of you for giving my grandchildren the idea that they CAN do it, if they want to!
We are having a mini-election in my house, and I know who's going to win! The party starts now!