Move Grandparents Day

National Grandparents Day falls in September, on the first Sunday after Labor Day.

There’s at least some anecdotal evidence that time of year was chosen because of its “autumn of life” symbolism.

To which I borrow an infamous expression from this time of year: “Humbug!”

For one thing, late summer is just too close to the first-generation parent days (Mother’s in May and Father’s in June).

And let’s face it-even though it’s been a national holiday for 35 years, the Thanksgiving-like variable date makes Grandparents Day impossible to remember. Did you know it was September 8 this year? Or that it will be September 7 next year? I didn’t, and most people don’t.

The worthiness of a day set aside to honor grandparents and encourage inter-generational bonding with them, which is perhaps more important now than ever, demands a better calendar affiliation.

And in honor of my own granny, Edith Kelley, who will be wished Happy Birthday for the 97th time this Sunday, I propose a December date.

Since we don’t have Boxing Day here in the U.S., the day after Christmas would make a great Grandparents Day.

The Yuletide is a time for cherishing family connections, and with lifespans expanding it’s becoming harder to see everybody on December 25. Moving Grandparents Day to Dec. 26 might create a welcome opportunity in which it becomes a tradition to reserve the Second Day of Christmas for grandma and grandpa activities.

And, since that day is less than a week from the New Year, the timing is also better for making (and renewing) resolutions to spend more time experiencing the tremendous blessing of grandparent relationships.

I’m only one of a half-dozen grandchildren, not to mention 14 great-grandchildren, belonging to Granny Kelley, and all of the others would have countless tales to relate about special moments or lessons about her.

Despite a fall two years ago which resulted in her having to give up her full-time job at my brother’s insurance office, she still enjoys making lunch every day for her boys (now age 77 and 75).

Visiting her on Christmas Eve, we engaged in the same ongoing argument that generally arises at any gathering at her house, which is, “Who is the luckiest?”

She says it’s her, to have all these grandkids and great-grandkids. We say it’s us, to have her for a granny.

But you don’t have to know my granny to benefit from the treasures in wisdom, experience and giving nature that all grandparents offer.

Fittingly, it’s an anonymous quote which characterizes grandparents-anybody’s grandparents-as having silver in their hair and gold in their hearts.

First resolution for a richer 2014: Visit more with your grandparents, or any elderly relation.

A Holiday Discovery

Readers may remember I had a brush with disaster on Sept. 12 when my car careened out of control and into some woods after hydroplaning on U.S. 67 near the White River bridge south of Newport.

We were aided following the crash by a Good Samaritan, which in the course of adrenalin-rushed events I neglected to thank, or even learn his name.

The wreck was a distant memory last Sunday when my entire family attended an annual Christmas party at a longtime friend’s house. I tell the host it’s the highlight of the holiday season, and he routinely replies, “Let’s do it again next year!”

Sumptuously stocked with rich foods and pastries and candies befitting the season, I was waiting my turn at the buffet line when a friend and professional acquaintance came up to me and remarked how uncanny it was that his wife knew both parties involved in my car accident.

My puzzled look was accompanied by a verbal cue.

“Wait a minute,” I said, straining to hear him above the holiday banter. “What other party?”

“Your Good Samaritan,” he replied, garnering my full attention.

“I thought she tagged you on the Facebook post,” he said, but by now I wanted to talk to her, and-as if directed by fate-she joined our conversation.

After a concise summary by the husband of our discussion, she told me the story and forwarded a screen shot of the pertinent Facebook post to my phone.

There was a photo of my column “A brush with the brink,” and above it I read the following:

“This article appeared in the AR Dem-Gaz on Sept. 20. My mother-in-law cut it out and saved it for me to read. She had found it intriguing but had no idea (because she had not heard the story) that the unnamed Good Samaritan mentioned in this harrowing account of this writer’s brink with death was our son-in-law. He is such a great guy! He wants no credit but I thought it was interesting how we discovered it in the newspaper!”

And so for Christmas this year I got a solved mystery, finally learning the identity of the young man whose image I can never forget.

I leave him anonymous in public (as he prefers), but now I have a name to put with that admirable deed.

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Dana Kelley is a freelance writer from Jonesboro.

Editorial, Pages 15 on 12/27/2013

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