CALLING ALL GRUMPS!
March 1, 2025
I recently read somewhere that there would be less problems in the world if parents and grandparents had not changed. It used to be the norm for parents and grandparents to pass on stories of sacrifices that their parents and grandparents made for their families. More importantly, most parents and grandparents would call out or correct their children or grandchildren when they were about to do something wrong or even thinking about doing something wrong! I remember my father reminding me, “It won’t break your jaw to say, ‘Yes Ma’am,’ ‘No Sir,’ ‘Please,’ or ‘Thank You.’” Let’s not forget to say, “You’re welcome” after someone says “Thank you.” I cringe when I hear young people respond with “No problem.” Values, principles and manners must be taught at an early age to avoid the consequences of not having them later in life. Look around — you don’t have to look too far to see what I am talking about.
About eighteen months ago I was asked what I wanted my granddaughter to call me. I thought grandchildren just called their grandparents “grandma” or “granddad” or something traditional like that but I was wrong. I was told that these days other, more catchy names were needed. I suggested the most appropriate name that I could think of to call someone with my personality — “Grump.” I am often somber and some people call me crusty and other gruff words, so Grump seemed appropriate. Grump is what my granddaughter tries to call me and I can resemble that!
Recently she stopped by my office to visit with me and I introduced her to several items from the past. I had her wear a rare 1920’s “whoopee cap.” Someone put little stars on the cap and it was reported that the stars were to honor those who died in World War I. She got to play with my collection of vintage military mess hall tokens that come from military bases all over the world. Every now and then I will pick them up and think about all of the men and women from the past who once used these coins to get a hot meal or something cool to drink. For me, seeing my granddaughter playing with the coins honors those who came way before her and were willing to die for our freedom. She doesn’t understand the power behind the dull brass and silver round things with various military base names stamped on them, but one day if I do my job she will. I really enjoyed letting her see and hold an antique “Spotter” airplane. During past wars, the wooden, flat black planes were used to teach military and civilian spotters how to identify aircraft. Sometimes these airplanes were placed on military maps to represent what type of aircraft were moving and in what direction to support mission planning. Before I would let her leave the office, I had to show her my antique telephone switchboard. If you had an early phone, you were connected to a local switchboard. If you lifted up your telephone receiver, a light would illuminate on your connection at the switchboard. There was an operator at the switchboard who would ask who you wanted to call and when you told her, she would plug your line into that of the person you wanted to call. When you hung up, the light on the switchboard would go out and she would unplug you. When I started my career at Associated Air Center in 1979, we still had a switchboard in the office! I also worked for Western Union and we had Telex and TWX as a state of the art means of communication.
May all of the grumps in the world do their part to help course correct our future generations, one child at a time!
Written by KING AEROSPACE Founder, Jerry Allan King-Echevarria.