It was one of the most exciting and gloriously happy days I had ever known. November 24, 1996, the day our first grandchild was born. And very quickly Matthew became a focus in our lives. A loving, precious, warm presence that created in us a powerful and overwhelming love.
Watching a vulnerable, dependent baby develop into a strong, vibrant teenager was a process that happened right before our eyes.
I remember the time Matty, as he liked to be called when he was about three years old, led the family around the living room in a musical salute. He played the tooting instrument, we followed him banging drums, crashing cymbals and jingling bells. The three year old Pied Piper headed the parade of four grandparents and all the children in the house following supportively behind, enchanted with our clever, talented, charismatic grandson. There was never a happier march. 
“Matty” became way too babyish a name for the elementary school student, who informed us that he was now to be addressed as “Matthew.”
Aren’t we lucky he didn’t request his title of address as “Sir Matthew?”
Matthew progressed and grew until in 8th grade he took on the adult name of “Matt.”
Matt by now was big brother to David and Julia. Every morning at 8AM their mother, my daughter Melinda, drove them to school. She often called for a chat between the school drop off and her appointments and errands. That’s when I heard her description of what is new in the lives of my grand school children as they developed their academic skills.
One morning this fall, when I hadn’t heard from her I called at 8AM and asked, “Did you just leave the children off at school?”
“Not this morning, Mom,” she answered, “Matt drove them to school today!”
And time moves ahead more quickly than any of us would wish…
MorristownMemos 
Comments on: "WHAT’S IN A NAME?" (42)
Oh, I love this story. Thanks for sharing:)
Thanks for your kind comment. Much appreciated.
How sweet is that? Lucky for you, you were able to watch Matt grow.
Yes, I know I am. I wish you the joy of grandchildren some day.
Aw, what a blessing they (Matt and his siblings) must be to you all. This is one of the beauties of life, family, and having children. Matt surely sounds like a man now — for him to be able to drive.
Footnote: Coincidentally, my Uncle’s name is Mathew and wonderfully, too, he son’s bears the name Mathew Jnr!
Thanks, Uzo. They all are special young people and give us great joy. I wish you the happiness of your own family soon.
Love the pic 😉
And yes, the older we get, the more time appears to speed up. This is actually true according to proportionality theory, anyway: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/07/15/time-warped-claudia-hammond/
Aloha, Ronnie.
I don’t know, Bela, but I think we see time going by because of the growth of the children. We don’t change as much or as rapidly as they do.
It is with wonder, amazement and joy that we warch them grow :-). Our third Grandie is on the way, we found out 10 days ago, with great excitement! Joy 🙂 On Sep 24, 2013 1:14 PM, “morristownmemos” wrote:
> ** > morristownmemos by Ronnie Hammer posted: “It was one of the most > exciting and gloriously happy days I had ever known. November 24, 1996, the > day our first grandchild was born. And very quickly Matthew became a focus > in our lives. A loving, precious, warm presence that created in us a > powerful and”
What wonderful news! I hope everything goes well and you wind up with a beautiful new addition to your family.
Thank you so much 🙂
They grow up very quickly, so if you have a grandchild, enjoy every minute you possible can.
Yes, that is so true, although I didn’t enjoy the “terrible twos” very much.
How quickly it all goes by, Ronnie. Matty/Matthew/Matt has transformed from a little tyke to a responsible young adult. I want to hold on to the good times we now share with our grandchildren, our chats. I’m glad that they still love to be read to and enjoy our company. That’s the part I never want to see end. But, like you, I know it will. Then, of course, there will be new experiences to enjoy. 🙂
One of the sad days for me was when my youngest grandchild learned to read and now wants to read to ME instead of my reading to her. But onward and upward!
Well, yeah, there’s that, too. Keep calm and carry on. 🙂
I have three such grandgirls who have mysteriously morphed into young women – all driving! It seems like I only just turned around and the babies were gone. Lovely post Ronnie.
When they first put on high heels was when they look suddenly looked grown up!
When Matt stated shaving I knew my goose was cooked!
Hi Ronnie,
You, with your story, just brought to mind that our oldest granddaughter graduates college this year…!!! Can’t be !!! She was just a baby in my arms a couple of years ago. I guess time stands still for none of us. This was a great post, Ronnie.
It’s both wonderful and terrible. Once they’re out in the world will they still have time in their lives for us grandparents?
That was a surprise! Did he have bells and whistles!? c
Just one look from him and the bells and whistles go off!
lovely… c
How time stands still for no one
Hi, Linda, You are totally correct, but it still is hard to imagine all the changes that take place in such a short time.
I’m having enough trouble wrapping my head around the fact that our oldest granddaughter will celebrating becoming a bat mitzvah this year, but driving??? Wow.
I know the feeling: Mazel Tov! We had our twin grandchildren celebrate their B’nai Mitzvahs the year.
Learning to drive is such a huge milestone; a big step towards independence that affects the entire family. I’ve learned how much self-sufficiency grows– along with the cost of car insurance!
AND the gas bill!
Another winning story by soon to be Pulitzer Prize Author, Ronnie Hammer, get your autographs now! This story touches my heart, I can’t believe I send my baby, Cassandra to Shoprite, Costco, she drives to the beach alone and also born in 1996.
She’s driving to Shoprite alone? Better get the wedding gown ready!
This was beautiful Ronnie. You so amazingly capture the very special, intense love of grandparents.
Thank you, Gaye. This comes straight from my heart.
Oh Dear Ronnie… time marches on and the proverbial grown Grandchildren’s impending marriages nears… then the possible Great Grandchildren… how time flies as we get older…
That’s amazing: the marriage of a grandchild. Congratulations, Bulldog, and aren’t you lucky to be around to see this wonderful day approaching!
Got one that has just recently got married and the second one happening in November
PING, old hackneyed sayings DO HAVE MERIT; Time FLYS when you are having Fun
Yes, I agree. I think cliches get a bad wrap. There’s much truth to them and that’s why those sayings become cliches.
So touching! Our eldest is only 4 but it’s still hard to believe how fast the years have gone. It’s so much fun to watch their development. Enjoy!
Thanks, Lisa. I wish you the same pleasure watching yours grow up.
Oh yes, Ronnie. We just celebrated our first grandson’s bar mitzvah. Thankful for these milestones and wondering how they arrived so quickly since those first “parades.”
…and yet we don’t change at all; isn’t it remarkable? Mazel Tov on this momentous occasion. I’m sure it was wonderful.