13/08/2024
There are these longings that arise in us that call us into the fullness of living.
They're not always the point, but they are pointing. Directing us towards the wholeness of our humanity.
Lysette has no remaining Grandparents on either side of her family. I have two remaining Grandparents, one of whom resides in India, and the other in a nursing home. We often look at the armchair in the corner of our living room (which happens to be my Grandma and Grandpa's house), and sense that something (or someone) special is missing. Lysette has often voiced her desire to put an ad in the local paper to find a Grandparent to spend Christmas with us. To enrich our celebrations with a rosy cheeked elder who also longs for a family to spend the day with.
When Lysette and I met, I had almost never held a baby. If it wasn't for her nieces and nephews, this would have remained true until our own children were born. I often wonder what effect this has on my parenting, having rarely had the opportunity to nurture younger kids or even just be around them. I wonder at the unfortunate limitations of the nuclear family system, and how that's affecting our collective psyche and character.
It's no coincidence that my chosen vocation is built on a framework of multi-generational storytelling. These longings for generational diversity created an opening for me to create something worthwhile. Against a torrent of pressure to 'niche', I insist on capturing life in all its stages. From brand new life to the golden years of eldership - there is a place for everyone in Our Folklore. There is profound value in every story. In the crossing of each threshold - marriage, parenthood, business ownership...
This week, I've finalised the new web page for Heritage Films. If you know a Grandparent or elder full of stories, wisdom and the remnants of yore...this is the place for them.
Check it out at the website (link in comments and bio) and let me know what you think!