Delong: To my grandson, upon his graduation from high school
Fore! You, my grandson, Joshua Douglas Delong, and four million other young folks graduate high school this spring. You and yours have overcome usual and unusual obstacles to finish this segment of your game of life. In my letter to you published in this space just after your birth in 2004, I warned that weeds likely would appear to threaten the growth of you and your bassinet buddies, now designated as Generation Z.
Regrettably, I predicted only too accurately. The crop of weeds has included: both foreign and domestic post 9/11 terrorism, the Great Recession from 2007 through 2013, the cataclysmic disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation-shaking focus on race relations and gender definitions, and finally that age-old noxious plant plaguing society—WAR.
We outgoing baby boomers apologize to you and you and your Gen Z-ers now commencing your walk through adulthood. We should have found ways to deliver better prospects for your ascension to the task of running this world. Nevertheless, Josh, I know you will rise to the occasion. You always have. If your generation adopts the many stellar traits that I have observed in you, then we boomers needn’t fret about yielding the path.
Leadership—You have led in many and varied ways. Throughout your school years you have been a servant/leader: class president, golf team captain, and member of numerous organizations from which you more quietly led: Fellowship of Christian Athletes, FFA, and the drug-free program. I remember in youth league baseball that your desire to lead sometimes led you to abandon your first base position to roam the entire infield trying to “assist” your teammates in handling theirs. You have since learned that leading includes delegating. This world needs leaders who can do both.
Abilities—Your variety of talents amazes me. Athletics- all conference and hole-in-one golfer. Art-maker and seller of beautiful sketches. Mechanical-creator of intricate contraptions with Lego blocks. Technology- repeatedly rescuing your grandparents from tech wastelands! Z-ers possess invaluable skills.
Manners—People today view mannerly behavior as archaic, not necessary in today’s me-first, selfie world. You, though, go beyond a “please and thank you” standard. I have introduced you to dozens of adults. You always face them, look at them, firmly shake hands, and offer them polite words of greeting. How refreshing! You write thank you notes …on paper! Your parents have given you good “bringing up.” Do not lose it, Josh. Manners may be out of style, but they remain unmistakably classy. Drop a polite hint to some of your generation.
Ambition—You, my boy, do not consider work a four-letter word. You give capitalism a good name. You first supplemented your allowance by selling imprinted clothing to your classmates. Then, you thrived in your online sneakers resale endeavor. You developed a coffee-selling business as a school project and have converted it into your own LLC. You have worked at numerous after school jobs and now as a restaurant server often bring home more bacon daily than I did after many years as an adult. You personify the proverbial “go getter!” I hope the Z-ers will go and get rather than wait and expect to receive.
Enthusiasm—Joshua, you have left nothing on the field regarding any of your pursuits: NASCAR, Legos, shoe collection, hat hoard, vintage clothes, employment, golf, family, God. When you dedicate yourself, you go all the way. You don’t just say you love Grandma. You visit. You don’t just claim you believe in God. You attend to Him and to His business with you in an active, sincere way. Grandma and God appreciate that. Avoid apathy, Z-ers.
Joy—One’s gait, manner of ambulating, style of locomotion, reveals lots about attitude. I still see you in my mind’s eye on a hot summer day when I first dared take you, maybe age 7, golfing with me on a full course. You had meager skills, of course, but your attitude shone. On hole 5, a long par 5, you drove your tee shot into the deep rough. All golfers I had known would have been stomping out there to search for their ball, knowing their score was ruined. I watched you in amazement as you skipped your way through the knee-high weeds, looking as happy as a kid coming downstairs on Christmas morning. Skipping connotes jubilance. Although usually utilized only by children, Neil Armstrong hop-skipped his way across the moon’s surface. Childlike and charming. Never lose your exuberance, Josh. This world needs more skippers.
I celebrate you, Josh. Even if my skipping days have expired, I inform you that I have witnessed too many people stomping through their lives. If your life consists of a round of 18 holes, you are standing now on the tee at hole 4. I thank our Creator for the manner in which you have played your first 3 holes and pray that you and your Gen Z playing partners will find wide, open, smooth fairways for the rest of your round of life and that you will even skip through the inevitable rough, weedy places. Fore!
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
I love you, Joshua.
Grandpa Delong
This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Delong: To my grandson, upon his graduation from high school
