About a year ago my granddaughter approached me, gently and informed me that she had a favorite author. I looked up from the work I was doing with interest and curiosity.
Funny isn’t it that as much as one knows that the children in ones life are maturing and expanding, and much as we want and look forward to their ongoing and becoming, we are still stunned when they present us with evidence of this … I sat a bit stunned, to hear my 12 year old grand child state that her favorite author was a gentleman by the name of John Green. I had never heard of him, and I was sad at this, she was saying that she had read a few of his books and liked him very much.
One of his books,” The Fault In Our S”tars, a book she loved was soon to be released as a movie and she could not wait to see it. “Can we go see it, Nana, when its here? this was a moment of so many firsts it took my breath away.
1st favorite young adult book
1st favorite author
1st time specifically requesting a film based upon the aforementioned favorite book
I asked Jazmine to sit down expressed interest in this book. I asked her to tell me all about this book. Jazmine eagerly sat down and launched into the retelling of a young girl name Hazel, who is struggling with a form of cancer, Hazel is dying. She lives with her loving and very worried parents. They, in their desire for her to not retreat from the world, insist that she join a cancer support group, she does so , mostly to please her mother and in the group she meets and handsome and charming young man named Augustus.
I watched with great interest as my grandchild spoke of these characters, their lives and their loves. I saw in her a feeling i had experienced many many times myself as an avid reader. I saw how these characters and their efforts to live their tale on the page, and become part of my grandchild’s life,thoughts and world view. I heard the story and greatly approved of it – I was struck by the depth of feeling and emotion that this book seemed to carry, at least with regard to jazmines retelling of the story.
This was a big moment this book touched on so many “adult” topics. Sickness, Love, Life, Death, I gazed upon my grandchild with a sweet inner sadness. The part of me that wished that jazmine could for ever be sheltered from the harshness of this word, was grieving. There was an equal and strong other part of myself that rejoiced to hear her speak with clarity and openness on these topics.
Wasn’t she just yesterday playing videos games and singing pop songs to herself? Well, yes she was – and would again. Today, however, she was sharing with me her remembrance of this book wherein the young heroine falls in love, not a sappy and unrealistic harlequin novel kind of love – but a love so grounded in reality, that it was challenged to prepare for death even as it drew it first sweet breathes. This book sounded wonderful, sweet, true and sad. and Jazmine loved it!
And because she did, I did too. I made a mental note to read this book and to do a bit of research on Mr. Green and his career. After hearing my grandchild’s retelling, I embraced her ,Ii realized that i had tears in my eyes – the story had moved me deeply. my love for my grandchild deepened. In it, a doorway opened that my soon to be teenaged grandchild began to enter, this doorway to my inner recognition and understanding of the woman she would one day be.
I made a spiritual and mental note to keep my mind and heart open. to remain watchful and aware as this new creature revealed herself. I promised that I would not break what I consider to me my own cardinal rule of parenting or grand parenting – That I would not miss the evolution of the young humans in my life. That i would be there as witness and supporter as these young beings revealed the people that God intended them to be and as the lives they felt called to live based upon who they truly are rather than my fantasy of them.
Another step had been taken, I was soo glad that i had not been too busy or too distracted for it. So glad.
I assured Jazmine that her favorite book sounded wonderful, powerful and sad. I told her that I was proud of her delving into such “grown up” thoughts and feelings. And yes, we would indeed see this films when it came out.
Miss Jazmine was pleased, and not quite understanding why her Grandmother found this a moment for pride; accepted a kiss anyway as she made her way to her room for bed. Saying that she couldn’t wait for the movie…
I sat in the living room, alone and full of gratitude for my grandchild, my children and my life.
@2014 L. Samsarah Morgan/Urban Nana
