Something To Be Lived Up To

A week before Christmas, a man in his sixties went into a big toy shop and began looking around at the various displays. He returned several times to a counter that featured a little train set. He was particularly fascinated by the great-sounding whistle from the engine as the train scurried around its little oval track. Finally, he said to the clerk who was demonstrating the toy, “I’ll take one.” “Your grandson will love it,” said the clerk. “Then I’ll take two,” the man replied.

Some third-grade students were asked to write a short essay about grandparents. One little girl wrote,

Grandmas are ladies who have no children of their own, so she likes other people’s little girls. They don’t have anything to do so they have lots of time for you.

They never say “Hurry up” when they take you for walks, and when they read to us they don’t skip words, and they don’t mind if it’s the same old story again. Some…