Page 17 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2017 - Online Magazine

lunch dates at school or lazy days at her home. guide my decisions. I hope she knows how she
Even though our generations vary, I respect her influences my life, and that I will always carry a
opinion and use her advice and experiences to piece of her generation with me. I love her deeply.

Emily, Through Nonny's Eyes

Today’s teenagers give new meaning to “flying by the seat of your pants”, but
they also understand the power of money and independence. They text and talk
in their own unique language, and I am still trying to decode it! Thankfully
my patient granddaughter Emily educates me along the way. Emily and I share
a special bond. She does not mind hearing about my “old-fashioned” ways and
stories from the past. She realizes my generation has our own special language
too and has many ways that are not obsolete. In fact, she has mentioned that she
would have enjoyed living in my time, because life was so much simpler. She
informs me that I need to stick around for a long time to advise her and to be
here for her big moments.

When I am with Emily, she makes me laugh. She is very authentic, bold and
loves her friends dearly. At times, during our conversations, the best advice I
can share with her is “pretty is as pretty does”. Our best conversations occur
while eating lunch in my car in the school parking lot. During these conversations, we visit about
everything under the sun. I anxiously wait for the moment she jumps into my car so I can hear about
her latest adventures. Her adventures differ greatly from the ones I had at her age. Sometimes she has a
thousand life questions to ask me and fires away! The conversation flows out of both of us and there is
never a quiet moment. We get to laughing so hard that I warn her that I may wet my pants.

When Emily and I go shopping, she knows that I am going to put her generation’s wardrobe through the
test. She can expect to perform an aerobic workout when trying on swimwear and other clothes that seem
questionable. Many times we look to one another for support, like when we try to stop drinking cokes.
(One of us usually folds!)

Our talks often involve the importance of family and our Lord. I have shared with her how the Lord is
truly her best friend, and to make choices as if He were to return at that moment to take her home. I
believe she uses my experiences to understand the constancy of God and family, and the importance of
fostering these relationships.

Through our moments together I have come to realize the differences in our worlds and how we are
learning from each other. Yet, because of our connection, our worlds share similarities that will not
change. I feel like I am living my life through our shared conversations and find myself thinking how
lucky I am to have this time to squeeze a little more of my generation into her! Truth be told, she does the
same to me. She is a shining light in my life, and I love her dearly.
~ Jamie "Nonny" Richards

MONTEREY

Article Submitted by Emily Hall

Emily Hall, senior at Monterey High School, is a member of MHS Varsity Cheer and enjoys
cheering for the Monterey Plainsmen. She is also a member of the MHS National Honor Society
and a Lubbock Junior Ambucs volunteer. She enjoys hanging out with friends and family and
will be attending Texas Tech University as a business major.

Lubbock Senior Link 17