A Papa’s Love Letter to his 15 Year-Old Grandson

by Robb Olmstead, Copyright ?? July, 2022

Hey Bud - please indulge me for a few moments while I express to you some of my thoughts from me to you.?Your time visiting Nana and I this summer has been precious, as we become more aware of how few of these are actually left, as you transition into pre-college and summer job interests in the coming year or two.

Your important and timely driving lessons here this summer have been fun for us as much as for you. Your skills have already elevated just in the few weeks you have been here. Keep up the good work on your driving effort.?And remember these life saving, common sense principals as you drive more often:

1. Always stay calm when driving (don't drive if your emotions are not in check, and pull over to get them in check if someone or something gets to you).?You ALWAYS have a chance to do that, but you NEVER have a chance to take it back if something really bad happens that you could have exercised control over.?
2. Remember that you are responsible for maintaining control whenever you can answer yes to the question, "Do I currently have the last clear chance to avoid a collision?"?

Onward, no harm no foul on the leftover Chinese food spillage on the car seat from our dinner out earlier with Nana.?The small amount that leaked out was all contained in the grocery bag they sent us home with and in the towel that Nana was proactive enough to place a while ago just in case...and I did not mean to in any way make you feel bad for that nor that it was your fault. Please do not think that way at all.?

It was however an important lesson you needed to learn about being proactive instead of reactive when planning any kind of departure in a vehicle and placement of items securely in the vehicle that you intend to transport so that accidents don't happen.?Always look behind you in the back seat when you carry people and things and insure all is secured before moving the car in any direction.

Ultimately this was my fault more than anyone else's because I was sitting there next to the stack of the takeout leftovers from that Chinese restaurant and it was I that had the "last clear chance" to avoid the accidental spill, LOL. I wasn't paying attention myself and the event that happened - happened. I got lucky it wasn't a huge mess.?But again, that was on ME - not you.?

Let it be a lesson learned for both of us.?

I have really enjoyed being able to spend some quality time with you this summer. I am immensely proud of you. I believe in you and the sound decisions you make for your future - and your now - and the care you take to insure the safety and well being of those around you as well.?

You are a model of the best of what this world can produce, when a strong mutual relationship exists of trust and faith between parents/grandparents and their children that become young adults before we know it.?

To help you navigate your new world as you venture out into your coming journey, I offer you some sage advice I have come to know and practice that has kept my keel straight, and my compass always pointing north, returning me home safely and wiser after life experience I sought to explore.

Keep God first, Family & close friends second, your education and work third and your country (or world) 4th. others will debate that, but having your own knowledge of what YOU believe is what matters here. Everything else will fall into place from there.?

Be the light others seek - organically.?

Be the love and honor that you seek in others - first in you though - that way you will always have both whenever you are alone.?And never be afraid to share both freely - but selectively and following discernment.?

Know that until you take full responsibility for anything and everything that happens to you, you will never know how to solve a problem that attempts to befall you. No matter the cause.?ALWAYS take responsibility in how you choose to move past whatever problem that is.?

Solutions should be called prolutions, for they lay before us - never behind us.?

NEVER accept the victim mentality. It has never succeeded at serving anyone anywhere ever.?

Be proud of the man that you are now. This is important: Always look yourself in the eyes in the mirror and tell yourself, "I will always be the very best of what and who I can be in this very moment right now." That is the truth with every fleeting moment. As long as there is ever any doubt, always allow growth to seek you, for it will come when you least expect it, whether you want it to or not.

I and Nana love you beyond description and we are two of your biggest fans.?

Stay true to yourself, and go easy on yourself when you see or feel a weakness in you. We all have moments of weakness and we all fail at times. It is what makes us human.?

Remember that it's not what breaks us or knocks us down a level or two, but how we get back up and what we do about it that champions our next climb - softens our next fall - and hastens our next rising up. It is what makes us unique.

That's what life is: a series of climbing and resting. Stumbling, falling, crawling, standing back up, walking again, running or sprinting - it is all up to us. When we climb, we climb our hardest each time. And when we reach a plateau - we rest.?

But we never stop climbing.

Study hard - do your very best in school - and in the work that you choose to do - it all goes by much faster than you realize - and take time out for your family and especially for you - as often as you can.?

Life is a football championship game. Make your plan. Implement your plan. Play your best. Take breaks to re-evaluate your growth and your position. Make adjustments in your plan during your breaks, and implement them when the break is over. Now play harder - and play smarter. Play to win. Always. If not for you then for those you promised you would do your part to help them get their win. Be strong - play fair - stay humble.

I appreciate very much the love and respect you honor your parents with. That makes their lives - and ours - more enjoyable and precious to you as you get older.?

That will make more sense down the road but I suspect you already have that figured out.

I'm sorry this is so long, but if I had a grandfather that wrote me a love letter like this, I would treasure it for my and many more lifetimes to come.?

I would digest it and evolve it into something even grander in scale for my future children and grandchildren to share amongst themselves - like a family crest.?

I had a few grandparents having been adopted and all, but I never had a close relationship with any one Papa.?

A boy needs his Papa and so does the man version of that boy.

And the Papa needs to experience both.

One of my biggest dreams in life was to become that for my own grandchildren some day so they too could experience it.

You are the first at the level you and I have. I hope to be here for you for many, many more years to come.?

And I hope that your brother and your cousins and I can also share a close bond as you and I have.?

Thank you for being who you are - and for being a huge blessing in my life, Grandson.?

I adore watching you grow.?

With all my love,

Papa O

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