Sebastian, Young Adult

 

by Pa Rock

Proud Grandpa

My second oldest grandchild, Sebastian, is no longer a child.  As of today he is an 18-year-old young adult preparing to go out and conquer the world.

Sebastian graduated from high school in Oregon less than two months ago and since then has relocated to the Kansas City area where he tells me that he will likely look for a job or go to school.  

Life is full of exciting choices when you are eighteen.   But life is also full of responsibilities, some which come when you cross that imaginary age line into adulthood.  Even though the military draft ended in 1972, young men in the United States, those between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five, are still required to traipse down to their local post office and register for the draft - just in case.  (Don't forget that one, Sebastian.  It's a biggie.)   And eighteen-year-old Americans of both genders have a responsibility to uphold and defend democracy by registering to vote and then staying informed on the issues and voting in every election.  (That is also a biggie!)

But have some fun while you are at it.  Being eighteen should be about fun.  In a few days you will be twenty-eight and consumed with the pressures of starting a family or some brave new venture, and a few days after that you will be a relatively young grandparent of forty-eight who is beginning to question how so much time has already slipped by.   And by the time you are seventy-eight, only a few more days down the road, you will be tripping over the dog, looking for your glasses, and wondering why nobody ever comes to visit.

Life goes by fast, Sebastian, too damned fast, so grab as much enjoyment from it as you can, and live it on YOUR terms.  Enjoy being eighteen - it only comes around once!

Happy birthday, Sebastian, with much love from Pa Rock!