#thewisdomofCarson of Downton Abbey and afterthoughts ! Granddads

In the last few weeks I have been binge watching Downton Abbey not having watched it before (on series 4 now - ha!) Certainly it is a page turner and a window into how things used to be - good and bad - not so very long ago. A special mention for Maggie Smith - what a part she plays.)

However it is something that the lugubrious but quite wonderful Mr Carson said in an episode yesterday. I posted it on FB :

From Carson - of Downton Abbey

"The business of life is the acquisition of memories."

Very profound ! Made me smile. xx

This morning on my early morning bike ride his insight (ps I do know he is a fictional character - ha!) was in my mind.

I am not entirely happy with it as a building block or as an approach to life. Surely the essence of life is looking forward. The value of the acquisition of memories is mainly in the form of the acquisition of knowledge and experience to draw on and guide you going forward.

The essence of life is the acquisition of memories, knowledge and experience to guide you into your future.

Having said that I am going to relate to you a bit about my two late granddads. Both were wonderful loving grandparents. Both were significant in my upbringing (and still are) but they were quite different.

Grandad S had lived a colorful life - a Sergeant Major in the Army - 8 years in India. Boxed and played hockey for the Army. I now understand grandad had been a bit reckless in his younger years and caused his family a lot of worries and upheaval - not all good. Liked the horses.

Grandad B - was a bit of a Carson. Ex Fire Service and Railway. Owned and ran a corner shop for years. Loved his football - Exeter City. About the only thing he did without my Nan. Grandad was steady - upstanding - a touch hen pecked. He had a real sense of humour - sardonic is probably the word. I enjoyed his company very much. Now and again I would use his name and call him Fred to tease him. Fred from a 10 year old - ha!

In the latter years both grandads developed heart issues. Grandad S particularly I remember suffered from angina. We regularly visited nan and grandad. They would sit in their armchairs for hours and recount past tales of the fun they had had - the scrapes they had been in - It was enough for them - they were content.

Grandad B however did not fair so well with his latter health issues. He was frustrated by it. It stopped him doing the things he still wanted to do. I guess you would say in some ways he was a little unfulfilled.

I judge neither. I love them both. Uncle Gary told me once when I was a young dad "if you love them Dave and they know you love them - your kids will turn out alright." We have no doubt our granddads loved us. They both died about 50 years ago.