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To heck in a handbasket

America has been “going to heck in a handbasket” since the 1960’s. As a matter of fact, the world has been going to heck in a handbasket since WWII (if you listened to the parents of baby boomers.) The invention of rock and roll music in the presence of drugs and fast cars created a veritable breeding ground for good seeds to become bad seeds.

America is going to heck in a handbasket, yet we are the most wealthy, powerful nation on the face of this planet. Those bad seeds became successful business men and women, scientists, inventors, teachers, engineers, mechanics, doctors, and farmers. Those bad seeds got married, had children, divorced, got married again, and had more children. And, oh, how they loved those children and wanted to give to them all that they had missed out on when they themselves were children and times were hard. Stereo systems, computer games, mountains of Barbie dolls and closets full of pricey NBA tanks and football jerseys would make up for the time you, as a parent, were forced to spend away from the family. Instead of hearing “Daddy, I’m so glad you’re home,” you conditioned your 5-year old to ask “What did you bring me, Daddy?”

I’m sure many of you are shaking your heads now, because you recognize this behavior either in your own life or in the life of someone you know. Whatever shall we do to save ourselves from all the bad in the world? Maybe we should look behind that mountain of Barbie dolls and find out what the next generation has on her mind? We might be surprised.

Because my husband teaches at a nearby middle and high school, we have had the opportunity to get to know some polite, intelligent, well-spoken, hard-working young people. Despite the circumstances that should have driven them all to a life of crime and laziness, these kids chose another path.
They hunger for knowledge. There are 2 young men in particular that come to mind. One just completed his 8th grade year, the other, his senior year in high school. Unlike my husband and I, who grew up in great 2-parent homes, these young men grew up in great homes with parents and step-parents and brothers and step-brothers.

Before the school year came to an end, the younger of the 2 had asked Jim to give him some tips on getting his steer ready for a local cattle show. For the past week, Kyle has been out at our place every day, soaking in every word and imitating my husband’s actions. He’s learning about nutrition and feed rations as well as washing, grooming, and tattoos.

The older boy is working construction this summer for his dad’s company and helped us put up hay. His interest is in music. He told me last night that he plans to get his doctorate in music business. We talk about everything from reading Beowulf and Canterbury Tales to what we like about Led Zeppelin, Johnnie Bush and Alyson Krauss.

It doesn’t matter what label society places on them, there is hope in this next generation. It makes no difference what their brother, sister or parents did, these kids are amazing. They hunger for what we have to teach them. It is humbling. Kyle and Robert have proven once again that success in life still lies in committment, respect, and grace under fire that exists in the human spirit. All it takes is a little patience. Find out what it is they “dig” and bait the hook to suit the fish.

I told my husband last night that I personally prefer to spend my time with those under 22 and those over 60. Many in that first group hunger for your knowledge, your recognition, and more importantly, your time. The older generation has the knowledge and experience for which I hunger.

Our country – our world – doesn’t have to go to heck in a handbasket. I guess it’s pretty much up to us.