Finneran: She Once Was Mine
Friday, June 23, 2017
She once was mine. She was the center of my universe. And what a happy universe it was.
She’s our first grandchild, now ten years old. Her name is Reagan and she graduates today. She’s a big kid now, off to a different school next year as a sixth-grader. To this day, I am often stopped in a store or on the sidewalk by listeners to my old radio show who want to know “how is Reagan”?
I was the proverbial crazy grandfather, always breathless, always proud, and always bragging about her exploits. She smiled today! She rolled over last night! She said “Papa” this morning! She took her first steps yesterday!
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTMy radio boss subtly hinted that listeners might like to hear something more worldly, more important than Reagan’s daily dramas. His hints went in one ear and out the other. CBS might have its “World News Report”. I had my very own Reagan News Report. My report was more important.
Of course, I had to share Reagan. With her parents. With my wife. And with her other grandparents. The six of us were and are head-over-heels about her. We were her universe and she was ours.
Over time, that universe grew. For all of us. Soon enough, Reagan had two brothers and multiple cousins. She’s the maestro of the nearest six of them, sometimes bossy and always opinionated. I wonder where she gets that from...........
She has a bunch of friends from these first five full years of school. They are nice kids and they seem both excited and nervous about going to a big-kids school next year. I suspect that her parents are nervous as well. I know that I am.
We live in a crazy world and the cocoons of vigilance, love, and protection which we weave in the early years can get dashed upon the rocks of an ugly modern reality. We can only pray that they heed the love and advice--- hopefully it’s been wisdom---we’ve given every day.
Two stories dominate my mind when I’m asked about Reagan. They both involve school.
Truth be told---no proud Papa braggadocio here---Reagan is a very good student. She has been in a French immersion program in her public school and she has had very dedicated teachers. She speaks fluent French. Two years ago, as she finished third grade, she and her twin cousins (Riley and Fiona) came with me on a business trip to Paris.
To say that she charmed all of Paris would be an understatement. She spoke so easily and comfortably with cab drivers, waiters, desk clerks, and maître ds.........this little pipsqueak American girl with flawless pronunciation was a big hit. It got to the point where she would roll her eyes along with the native Parisians when Donna or I would try to utter a French phrase or two. Apparently, we were pretty hopeless. Thankfully, Reagan, all of eight years old, was our calm, collected, and confident navigator for the entire week.
The second story is the story of the “kindness club”.
Reagan and a few of her friends noticed that some classmates seemed shy and lonely, almost to the point of sadness during recess and lunch periods. They talked about wanting to help all kids feel welcome and comfortable and they decided that a “kindness club” would help build friendships throughout the school. Reagan and her buddies approached the principal and described what they had in mind. The principal loved it and it has now become a school-wide week-to-week event where acts of kindness are recognized and applauded.
Curiously, the kindness initiative does not always extend to her brothers! Those of you who come from active families know the drill.........brothers and sisters battle constantly, until an outsider picks on one of them. Then woe to the outsider as the brothers and sisters unite in affection of each other and affliction to the troublemaker.
So there it is, the story of Reagan, now brought up to date. She’s still the center of our universe, now a larger and even happier universe.
Congratulations on your graduation Reagan. I love you.
Tom Finneran is the former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, served as the head the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, and was a longstanding radio voice in Boston radio.
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