They solemnly sat in the first row of St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church. I didn’t know who they were, but understood the person memorialized was very important to them. At the end of the service two young women and six young men were the pallbearers for their Yiayia.
I met them at the luncheon following the burial. They were the exact opposite of the adult children mentioned in a recent blog. They were bright lights, confident and connected to each other. But sadly because they lived so far away, my family doesn’t know them at all.
Today, twenty and thirty year-olds grow up understanding that moving away is a fact of life, while I grew up in a world where most of my family lived within walking distance. The boomers who are now grandparents are on Skype, Facebook and Facetime on a regular basis to create a connection with their grandchildren that has to suffice between visits and hugs.
Perhaps the next version of Facebook will include a way to smell Sunday dinner. Until then it’s a great way to watch a video of an older sibling making a new baby brother laugh, first steps, hockey games, or the school play.
I think the thing I enjoyed best about watching them yesterday was that the cell phones only came out at the very last minute for pictures. They spent the whole time connecting the old fashioned way…they talked to each other.
Nice meeting all of you! May our next meeting be at a family reunion.
Have a great week!
Tina Nocera, Founder
What a beautiful observation of the “kids”. They all are very connected to each other and now, thanks to their YiaYia they are connected to their larger family – their “tribe”. What a gift my mother gave us in her passing. I know we will never loose each other again…we all felt the love, we all were aware that we were cut from the same cloth and we all exchanged e mail addresses!!!