Grandpa, my babysitter was crying today.
Elijah (five months old)
I’m sorry, Elijah. Why was she crying?
Marissa’s cousin in Puerto Rico sent a text five days ago but Marissa didn’t get it until this morning. She was crying hard, Grandpa! It was really sad.
What did the text say, Elijah?
I thought you’d ask, so I asked Marissa to print it out ’cause you’re old. You don’t text so good.
‘Well’, Elijah, I want you to learn to speak proper English. You should say, “You don’t text so well” — not “you don’t text so good.”
Yeah, well, you say ‘well’ a lot. That’s not good. Well, here’s what Marissa’s text from Puerto Rico said. It’s not good.
Month 2. Day 1.
No power
We have running water
Telecommunications are fair on the best of days. I consider it successful if I can consistently get 2mb down. Today it’s about 0.13mb.
Traffic is insane
Fuel lines are better
Shopping takes hours
We are the lucky ones, the privileged ones. It’s not better, progress is slow, medical care is impossible for many.
We are here. We need your help. Keep pressure on news organizations, on elected officials, and aid organizations. Use your voice for people who have been silenced.
Grandpa! We’re gonna help, right? Are we ‘privileged’?
- Grandpa Gordon, Chaska, MN, October 24, 2017
Views from the Edge 
The P R situation s o so sad. Elijah is growing so fast – such a beautiful child.
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Sad, indeed. Thanks, Karin, for the comment on Elijah.
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Thank you for sharing this sad sad message. We must do better, we know we can.
(Also, Elijah is growing up so fast, he is just beautiful and I love the hope I see in his eyes)
❤ Nancy
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Isn’t he something, Nancy? I see it, too.
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