When did you last converse with a grandchild?

A while back there was a picture in the North County Times of a 64 year-old Palestinian grandmother holding a rifle (!) before carrying out a suicide bombing of Israeli troops, according to the caption under the picture.

What might have happened that morning at the breakfast table? Maybe it went something like this: Grandson: “Grandma, what are you going to do today?” “Well, grandson, while your mother cleans the kitchen, while I clean your dad’s rifle, your grandpa and dad are going to make a bomb and put it in a basket for me. Later, I’ll take it out where the Israeli troops are and when I get close to some of them I’m going to ignite the bomb and kill myself and as many of the troops as I can. There will be some dads, moms, maybe even some sisters and grandparents there. Before I go I have a birthday gift for you. Since it’s supposed to be a surprise and I won’t be here I’ll go ahead and tell you what it is. It’s a rifle and two hand grenades. I got the grenades from your mother’s stash. Well, I’ve got to go now. Have a happy birthday.”

I thank God that this isn’t a conversation at an American table. When I sit and talk with my grandkids, it’s not about committing suicide and killing others. What was your last conversation with your grandchild, or grandparent?

Roscoe McGuire