from Uncle Brian

"The Old People Site"

People of all age access this blog and that's great! From time to time, I overhear someone talking to Diane or Craig or I read a comment here on the blog which demonstrates this phenomenon. The Hollingworth family are as inclusive on the blog as they are in daily life. And I'm not one to point fingers, mind you, outside of political discourse and debates about our beloved Red Sox (the Yankee criminals Ed Aberger and Craig Hollingworth being particluar targets), but this blog was set-up for all you "old" people and you know who you are!!
Courtney's sisters, Katy and Claudia set-up this beautiful blogsite with the older folk in mind - you know, people like me (age 47) and you. (as it is, I had to hire an assistant, Mr. Jeeves, to hold a magnifying glass over the keys so I can type on the computer but I keep drooling and coughing on it which makes everything blurry again). To relate to people their age, they also put a page up on Facebook.com. I don't have a problem with this. In fact, I applaud their efforts. Courtney will certainly approve. As Diane puts it, Courtney would casually refer to people her parents age as, "Old people like you, Mom". God bless her little heart! And I mean that more than ever!
But Courtney's directness doesn't end there,,, no, no, no! Some years ago when Katy and Courtney were much younger I paid a visit to Diane and Craig. At the time - as you face their old house on Tallman Avenue from the street - their neighbors to the left were an elderly couple. If my memory serves me, and right now I'm doubtful due to the fact that there's a stranger, named Jeeves, standing behind me holding a dirty magnifying glass who claims I hired him, the weather was warm and the couple were easily in their eighties.
I remember seeing these people at least once. Certainly, they had paid life's dues. They were kind and respectful of others keeping in line with how they were brought up, I assume. They were the quintessential cute, old couple. And so it was, on one warm spring or summer day that young Courtney made her way over to the front steps to confront her elderly neighbors. Normally, one wouldn't use the word "confront" in the same sentence referring to a little girl and an elderly couple but if the shoe fits,,,,.
Not being an eyewitness to the event that day, I rely on Diane's description which goes as follows and I paraphrase:, "Courtney walked over to our elderly neighbors who were sitting on their front steps the other day and said, (as Diane laughs as she does) "You know,,,,,,, you're gonna die soon!" You don't get more direct than that!
We all know that Courtney is going to be a teacher when she recovers. I would LOVE to be a fly on the wall during those parent-teacher conferences as she confronts parents whose children can do no wrong!

God bless the Hollinworth Family!