The Big Interview

It was Grandparent's Day at Kimberlin Academy for Excellence, where our granddaughter Lena is in fourth grade. Andy and I had the pleasure of being interviewed by several budding journalists. I'm usually the interviewer, not the interviewee, so this was fascinating. The kids rotated around the room, asking a few questions each of the grandparents who were in attendance.

Question 1: How did you get to school? Andy: I had to take two buses from where we lived. Me: I walked with my girlfriends for about five blocks. Also walked back and forth for lunch, as our elementary school had no cafeteria.

Question 2: What technology did you have? Andy: Only a slide rule for drafting class. Me: Does a transistor radio count? These kids, who are so accustomed to computers, iPads, and Kindles, were pretty astonished to learn that we didn't have any kind of computers or cell phones.

Question 3: What did you watch on TV? Andy: I liked Westerns like Gunsmoke.  Me: The earliest shows I remember were Howdy Doody, cartoons and Captain Kangaroo. As a teen, I always watched American Bandstand, which featured rock n' roll performers. I told one girl that TVs only had 3-4 channels and you had to get up and change the channel. Her eyes flew open!

Question 4: What did you do for fun? Andy: I played baseball. We all just showed up at the field. Me: I was big on playing jacks, roller skating, riding my bike and reading.

Other questions were: What happened when you got in trouble at school? Did you like your teachers? What is  your favorite building? As we answered their questions, I'm sure we must have seemed like dinosaurs to these eager kids, but they were very interested in what we had to say. I wonder what questions their grandchildren will ask them?