Just A Brief

Hunter and I are finished. We have met now for ten weeks, and spent several hours together each visit.

I must begin by telling you Hunter is 21, and me, well, you know I won’t tell you that, but Hunter is younger than any of my grandchildren. So there is admittedly a significant span of years, if not decades, between us.

We became acquainted when I was asked to participate in an educational project for college students. It was my initial belief I was to help a young person write a book.

The afternoon Hunter arrived for our first meeting, I told him immediately I had never been a teacher, but as a writer looked forward to helping with his project.

Laughing he said, “No problem. My book is about you.” I had misinterpreted the request regarding the project.

I frankly wondered what he could write about me, but I remembered I had made the commitment and honored it. The ten weeks have flown by, and I have enjoyed every aspect of the time spent with a very interesting young man.

While I love and enjoy grandchildren, our relationship was different because there was no familial relationship. Honesty was what made each encounter so interesting. I was delighted to meet a young man with such an amazing work ethic, and I think despite the difference in generations, somehow I surprised him several times.

The twice a week meetings seemed to scurry by, and I had almost forgotten they would end before the Christmas holiday.

When Hunter arrived this week, and we discussed the division of chapters in his project, I realized another brief, but lovely interlude in my life was also reaching its conclusion.

For several months, on alternate Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, I briefly returned, not to the world of Oz, but the equally enchanting land of youth. My young visitor brought his joie de vivre, ambition, belief in tomorrows, and youthful viewpoint into my world. Our relationship was rather like a brief encounter between two kindred souls, both aware they would soon travel in distinctly different directions.

When questioned about my yesterdays, I had the ability to look back clearly sans emotion or need to be protective of others, and be utterly honest in reflecting on the realities. When asked for an opinion, my reply was not colored with either optimism or negativity, but absolute candor. The facade of viewpoint never interfered with our dialogue.

I hope Hunter gets an A on his project, but I know I can only give him the highest accolades for the brief ride on the magic carpet of yesterdays we shared together.

I also hope he had some fun along the way, too. Because I certainly did.

Go forward, my young friend, and conquer the world!