I remember a comic strip where a son and father in winter coats were in front of a house with big icicles on it.
Frame 1: The boy says, “Wow dad, look at the size of those icicles!”
Frame 2: The dad says, “They were a lot bigger when I was a kid.” And the kid responds, “Come down here”.
Frame 3: The dad is kneeling down, eye level with the kid, and the dad says, “Wow, look at the size of those icicles!”
– – –
It’s not always easy to see things from the same perspective as we did when we were younger. For me, I remember people around me being giants (in more ways than one).
My grandfather, Leon Bernstein or ‘Papa B’, was one of those giants. Last night on Facebook Messenger, I connected with my 2nd cousin Lee, his full name is Leon, named after my grandfather. He is my grandmother’s brother’s son, but Lee is only 4 years older than me. Still, growing up in Barbados as the oldest grandchild on one side and second oldest by 5 days on the other, Lee was so much bigger and older, and I looked up to him when we came to visit.
I feel blessed because when I was a kid, all the giants in my life were good to me. Wonderful parents, grandparents that spoiled me, aunts and uncles who treated my like their own, 2nd cousins who taught me football (soccer) and cricket.
Some people have to grow up with angry giants, and some with monsters, my land of giants were exceptionally loving and kind. I truly feel blessed, and I thank Lee for reminding me of this.
Look who is the giant now in so many other ways too? Your kind and thoughtful perspective honours our fathers, our family, Leon, his legacy and us…proudly reconnecting! L.