The "Community" structure which formed the basis and innovation in the early years of GeoCities, was supplanted by Y!G when the so called long URL's, which included the neighborhood and site number in the block, was replaced by a shorter personal preference. Thus the volunteer community leaders which formed the backbone of help, encouragement, welcoming of new neighbors, were no longer able to maintain their neighborhood affiliations and topic centers were formed.
In addition Y!G put the volunteer program on their own with no support, encouragement, or recognition for outstanding personal sacrifice of time. In short the "young Turks" might have thought the structure of their "magnificent" portal of e commerce had no need for those citizens who were older, but in their eyes not wiser.
Introduction - Grandparents
All Through The Night
Sleep my child and peace attend thee, All through the night Guardian angels God will send thee, All through the night. Soft the drowsy hours are creeping, Hill and dale in slumber sleeping I my loved ones' watch am keeping, All through the night. Angels watching, e'er around thee, All through the night. Midnight slumber close surround thee, All through the night. Soft the drowsy hours are creeping, Hill and dale in slumber sleeping I my loved ones' watch am keeping, All through the night.
The lyrics to this traditional Old Welsh air is a popular lullaby which my grandmother and mother either sang or recited as a little nursery rhyme to all of we children and is used to introduce our grandparents topic, which is the first in a series which will feature all of the 28 topics in our Heartland Topic Centers by this editor and guest editors.
Teaching nursery rhymes allows a child to peep into the fields of literature, take the first steps in those journeys that will end in Shakespeare, Browning and Goethe. When his infantile ear is caught by the lively rhythm and the catchy rhymes, he is receiving his first lessons in poetry. That the lessons are delightful now he shows by his smiles, and in middle life he will appreciate the joy more keenly as he teaches the same little rhymes to his own children.
Most children know the rhymes when they come to school and they will like to read them there. A child's keenest interest is in the things he knows. Later, perhaps in the high school or the grammar grades, he will be interested again in learning that the rhymes are not wholly frivolous and that there may be reasons why these rhymes should have survived for centuries in practically unchanged forms
As we begin our series on "Topics" with grandparents, perhaps one or more of the "young Turks" may occasion upon this article and reconsider that those among us who are grandparents can and do make significant contributions to the well being of online "communities."
Drew Harkins (Our Grandson 2 lbs 4oz 16 inches long)
When "little bitties" are born and live, no matter what our age, perhaps we realize the frailty of our existence. Take heed ye "portal magnates" and "young Turks."
We grandparents who are referred to as "war babies" possibly have more stories to tell than you dear reader would care to hear, but what is contained in the following pages must be told and retold, so that future generations will seize upon the opportunity to turn from their materialism and self gratification and give to our communities a portion of what they have so feely and richly received.
Preemies and "Giving"
If you remember quite well a little cardboard packet, which had cut outs for inserting dimes, then you are "dated" dear friend. Most of us gave up an extra coke or candy bar, cut lawns, raked leaves, washed windows, did no go to a movie for a month or did anything else in order to fill The March of Dimes packet, which if filled equaled five dollars. Therefore it is not uncommon for our children to support the organization which was established by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to put an end to polio. Our little dimes helped in the research led by Dr. Jonas Salk, which led to the announcement in April, 1955 that the Salk polio vaccine was "safe, potent and effective."
Children in the Mobile, Alabama area have been helping future generations with their efforts to support The March of Dimes on a continuing basis since those early years. In fact our children saved their pennies and nickels too in order to preserve and provide a permanent home for the USS Alabama on the Causeway, near Mobile, Alabama. So you see, when children help children - no greater love can be shown. If we adults could learn from our children how to save and help others, we just might be better parents and grandparents.
The research has continued and significant progress has benefited preemies, prenatal care and treatment, and other childhood diseases. In fact some of the most recent discoveries were the result of caring and compassionate citizens who made and make contributions to this wonderful organization and benefited our first grandchild Drew who is pictured at the beginning of this section.
Remembering
The words my father spoke 22 years ago several weeks before his fatal heart attack and death still ring in my ears - "Son if you do not take the time to sit at the feet of those who are older and wiser then you, then their knowledge may be lost for ever." Mercy! So many are older and wiser, where does one start? As we grow older we suddenly realize that our parents were much smarter than we were in our youth, for we did not realize at the moment that they had already made the mistakes we would have to make ourselves in order to understand and learn. If only we had listened and applied what we had heard.
Being a grandparent does not preclude making mistakes. Nor are we exempt from the trials and tribulations of younger people who think we are ancient and have nothing to offer in the way of advise and knowledge. But now our eyes and hearts are possibly focused on eternity and our frailty. Still the question remains can we teach and learn. There is a resounding yes to the question, for into our CL midst come retired civil servants, nurses, SAHM, doctors, lawyers, pipe line workers, and our wonderful young people who have taken the time to sit at the feet of those who are older and wiser. Young people like 21 year old "Shadow Walker" who are older and wiser than their years are entering the CL program at a time when our numbers are decreasing, which signals a reversal and probable significant increase in the months to come.
Our Gift
Every grandparent ponders whether a lasting gift or moral life's lesson can be left with our grandchildren. When we see four old Drew sitting by Mr. Petey, one of our Shetland Sheep dog pups, or Melissa our oldest daughter reading to Drew with a sparkle in her eyes, "Ditsey and Popsie" (my wife and I) know that we have left our children and our grandchildren with some of life's important lessons well learned.
We know that the love of reading and dogs will continue with Madison Anne Marie Harkins, born April 24, 2000 (6 lb 4.5 oz and 19 inches long).
Gifts for Everyone
In each of the Topic Centers is a
section on grandparents. Each TC is different, educational, and a source of help and encouragement. Our Heartland Headquarters
contains links to all of the TC's, a complete list of Community Leaders who are interested in helping you develop disABILITY compliant web sites, fine tune your creations, and give you information
about the 28 topics which include friends, which is our next months featured topic.
Susan Pate, a long time Heartland citizen, will be our guest editor. Susan is well qualified, talented, and a wonderful southern lady who will delight you with her wit and charm, so return to T.H.E. GeoNews in July, 2000 and read about "real" friends. The ones who never borrow money, give us wet smacks and kisses, show affection by wagging their tails, and stick by us through thick and thin. Yes, Susan will tell us about our "fur friends."
Copyright: 1986-2010