NEXT GENERATION
Between 2017 and 2019, I wrote the following about our first grandson. The passage was from my autobiography, "So Far...". With the recent birth of our second grandson, Morien, the words remain equally relevant for both brothers. I wrote then:
"Quite naturally, Ascher was without question very precious to us. He was our first grandson. Both grandmother and I busied ourselves to get to now this beautiful child. From the time of his birth we documented every imaginable moment with photos of him, sleeping and waking. His parents and we couldn't seem to get enough of him. We dotted after him constantly. We attended to his every whimper, cry and coo. We carried and entertained him. And all except for changing his diapers -- you guessed it -- we captured his daily activities on our handy-dandy digital cameras. We couldn't help but want to photograph him.
"Why the compulsion? Did we sense the moment would never be the same? Was it testimony of a love we wished to share with him when he was older? Well, yes, it was all of the above. It was what parents and grandparents do and have always done, providing they have the love, interest and means to do so.
"There was such an overwhelming sense of joy and pride. We felt compelled to love him even more. But why the heightened interest? The attention and satisfaction should have been no different than what was experienced with my younger siblings and our own daughter. Yet, this time around it somehow seemed different. Maybe, with siblings it was a task; with a daughter it was a responsibility; with a grandchild it was these and more. It was the desire to pass on and ensure our legacy, knowing for certain our own years were numbered.
"While we knew not his future anymore than our own, we had only high hopes, good wishes and considerable prayers for him. Among these, that his parents would be forever together to protect, guide and nurture him; that he would respect his parents and bring honour and happiness to them; that he would practice tolerance and respect for all, exercise good judgement and uphold proper moral decorum; that his life would be selfless and dedicated to the greater betterment of humanity; that he would have the forbearance to rise above adversity; that he would have a keen sense of humour, without malice towards his peers; that he would respect and marvel in the creations of this world, great and small; that he would believe and remember his Creator; and above all, that Allah would hear and grant our supplications.
"So, Ascher (and now Morien, your children and grandchildren), if you are reading this now, please heed my words, not just the ones in the previous paragraphs, but the lessons in my life that I've recorded in this autobiography. Aside from the clinical and biographical accounts recorded herein, we are family. Aside from the genetic code that defines our relationship, our compassion and respect for family is the template for bridging the bonds of humanity. We are here in this world to aid one another. It is how we should be remembered. Let it be your legacy. Love humanity. Love the planet. Love life."
