Gramps

 Gramps & Henry P

Zilker Park Austin January 21 2010

Okay, maybe this post doesn't seem to fit on the ME blog.  But it is the reason I've not posted in some time.  I've been away, in Texas, making Henry's acquaintance.  That's Henry you see above, my first grandchild, age two days, on his first outing with mom & gramps.  The kid is great, I tell ya'.  I think he likes me already, at least from what I can tell.  For instance, he hasn't bit me yet, or done any of those nasty things kids love to do to old people.  Actually, we have a lot in common: we sleep a lot, we tend to grouse at the slightest provocation, we prefer soft food, rely on other people to check for wardrobe malfunctions and we have to pee about every five minutes.  One big difference, the kid has more hair than me.  The educational part of all this is simple to see.  Henry will teach something to everyone he contacts, and I'm prepared to take a lesson or two from him in whatever topic comes along.  

One thing that occurred to me as I held young Henry, and saw his mom and dad interact with him, was just how achingly sweet the moments were.  Those two really love that child, and I can see already just how lucky the little guy is to have such engaging, caring, concerned parents.  Then another thought: How sad that we as a society strive to deny the same kind of sweet, loving interaction to our LGBT brethren, or anyone else.  There's something wrong with a group of people who collectively work toward restriction of the tenderness and proto-human exchage I witnessed between that child and his parents.  If two people desire that, the most cherished and compassionate event possible between humans, how can it be anything but right, and true, and virtuous?  This is real life.  We ought to be encouraging this, not denying it to anyone.