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VITAMIN S

Now that Kaya and Kasumi are staying with us while Kaya's future sibling gestates to perfection, I find myself smiling and laughing more than usual, not only because smiles are infectious (kiddy smiles even moreso) and Kaya grins at the slightest sign of grinnability, even working herself up into extended bouts of laughter with no visible source of humor, but because her smiles are so pure and unrestrained, so open and trusting, I simply must respond with smiles of my own, all welcome doses of Vitamin S. The laughter that soon follows also feels right at home on my face, which takes good comfort in a familiar habit that is best not broken. And therein is another gift that grandchildren give.

As one grows deeper into elderhood, for various reasons there is often a tendency to smile less, which means even less laughter, perhaps none at all, a condition that puts one in danger of becoming a living bust. As well, a sense of humor sharpened by long experience can often be very hard to tickle into guffaws; not to mention that with the wisdom conferred by said experience often comes a crusty hauteur that may be ideal at board meetings or on a judicial bench, but can be very counterproductive at a birthday party or a random walk with a two-year-old. Also, as over decades one comes to trust more and more in one's own judgement, one can turn too far inward, and no longer follow the younger way of interacting with life's surroundings as with a vigorous dance partner.

Hence, elders without grandchildren around can, if left thus untended for any length of time, spiral inward toward the dreaded realms of Fogyism. The grandchild spares you such a fate by making you smile countless times a day without any particular point, and top it off with a laugh. For a smile begets a smile, and it is the smile that makes the grandfather (grandmothers seem to have it much easier in the smile department), breaks the mask and opens the elder heart to bright new things.

Back when the child before you was your own child, of course you smiled; but you were younger then. When you are young, newly familied and wrapped in the world, there are countless reasons to smile. In the elder, however, as indicated, the duration between smiles can in time approach infinity. A protracted lack of Vitamin S soon begets gloom, which leads to inertia and thence to stagnation, the opposite of the smile.

This is where the grandchild comes in, smiles at you right out of the blue, and there on your face is a spontaneous smile of your own: you too are a source of joy once more, and are thus blessed. So if you're suffering a lack of Vitamin S and haven't cracked a smile in a while, consult the nearest grandchild.