Passing it on to the next generation

@TheHorse (219071)
Walnut Creek, California
April 2, 2016 12:44pm CST
How did I wind up with a sticky Ninja on my wall yesterday? I had been playing Thomas the Train outside with my 7-year-old neighbor kid friend and his mom. I've known them for about four years, and he's watched me restoring old loudspeaker on my balcony for all of those years. I showed him how to properly sand wood when he was five or so. He's "helped" me restore several vintage loudspeakers. Yesterday, when one of his wooden train tracks was broken, he knew who to ask for help in fixing it. Once we got the thing glued back together, of course he had to come over and show me some Thomas locomotives I hadn't met, along with a favorite stuffed animal and his three sticky Ninjas. We could only get one Ninja to stick on my wall, but we had a good time. I'll attach a picture of my young friend hard at work on his train track (actually a drawbridge) outside. I enjoy passing my love of woodworking, music, and sports on to the next generation. Are there special things you enjoy passing on to those who will occupy our shoes in the future?
22 people like this
23 responses
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
2 Apr 16
The young man seems intent on doing a good job.
4 people like this
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Apr 16
Yep, he can be pretty focused. See his creation in the near distance behind him?
4 people like this
@jstory07 (139816)
• Roseburg, Oregon
2 Apr 16
@TheHorse He build a nice looking train track.
3 people like this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
2 Apr 16
@TheHorse That is quite the Thomas the Tank Engine layout he's got there. My oldest son loved TtTE but my youngest never got into it.
4 people like this
@vandana7 (100312)
• India
4 Apr 16
TheHorse...that boy is going to remember you for ages. Love whatever you are passing on. I would love my little friend to be good in music. Point is, whenever I sing, he says ok...put that song on computer (he does not know the spellings). When he hears the song, he says change it...or asks me to sing instead. He does not like the original pieces..:( lol. I have tried making him sing Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's songs. They are tough ones, but he can manage some. The little one just loves Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's "Mein Tenu Samajhavan ki". Spellbound...won't allow me to touch mouse. lol.
3 people like this
@vandana7 (100312)
• India
4 Apr 16
@TheHorse ..I have not used the old masoom song with her, but the songs I have used with them are Lakdi ki kaathi from new masoom, chanda chamke cham cham from fanaa, and bum bum bole from tarein zameen par. The last one may not meet your approval. Rahat Fateh ali khan's songs she likes. I just have to play and she comes knocking our door. lol. I play the punjabi version. So there is nothing odd..my hero likes ice and all that play in chanda chamke which is basically a tongue twister kind of song. :)
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100312)
• India
4 Apr 16
@TheHorse ..My friend is 4 years old, and his little sister is two. She is pretty much cute like the girl in Nani Teri morni..lol.
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Apr 16
How old is your friend? I had a 5-year-old girl who had been over-exposed to MTV (quite vulgar), but when I exposed her to the songs from two different Masooms, she fell in love with them, and would sing and dance to them with me.
Presenting NANI TERI MORNI KO MOR LE GAYE FULL VIDEO SONG from MASOOM A movie starring Ashok Kumar, Sarosh Irani, Honey Irani and Mohan Choti in lead roles, ...
1 person likes this
@mammots (3209)
• Philippines
3 Apr 16
This cute little boy will forever remember you for all the skills you have taught him. You are very lucky to have him to pass on your skills to. I want so much to pass on my drawing skills but i'm still waiting for this opportunity to come to me because i believe art is something that cant be forced on somebody.
2 people like this
@mammots (3209)
• Philippines
3 Apr 16
@TheHorse Only those who have the gift of music will seek you out and ask for you to teach them play the mandolin. These children could either say it out verbally that they want to learn or they could just say it non verbally.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Apr 16
@mammots The little ones all want to play. But the little ones who have the gift will continue to seek it out when it's not just a way of having fun with a favorite teacher.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Apr 16
It's the same with music. I let all of the 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds at the preschool "play" my mandolin. But for how many will it stick?
3 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
4 Apr 16
Oh look at him ! He is doing the repair of his wooden toy . And i know he learned how to , from you .
2 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
4 Apr 16
@TheHorse He is a smart kid to have learned it fast .
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Apr 16
We did it together. He carefully observed what I did. We put glue on both sides of the broken part. I held it together and then put it on my fridge in such a way that "gravity would help us." He knew what I meant.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
2 Apr 16
lol, the fringe on his shirt made me giggle.
2 people like this
• Centralia, Missouri
2 Apr 16
@TheHorse and I noticed the 80s are coming back too
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Apr 16
His mom does that. She's pretty creative.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Apr 16
@Jessicalynnt The horror!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340466)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Apr 16
I've taught many kids to ride or play the piano (sometimes both). Some of them pick up stuff so quickly while others take a bit more time.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
14 Oct 17
Yep. I throw everything I have at them (including sports) and see what they catch.
2 people like this
@allknowing (136769)
• India
3 Apr 16
He has a cute top on. I like those threads hanging that represent sleeves . I like the way he is concentrating - definitely he is bound to walk in your shoes.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
14 Oct 17
His mom did that. She is very artistic. Yep, the kids knows a lot of what I know.
• United States
2 Apr 16
Aw it was a sticky ninja! Very sweet of you to help him repair is train set! My nephew loves Thomas the train!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Apr 16
I kept it overnight, on top of my fridge, so "temptation" wouldn't get in the way. It's ready for use now. Heh.
2 people like this
• United States
2 Apr 16
@TheHorse looks brand new! I'm sure the kid is thankful for such an awesome talented crafty cool neighbor like you !
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Apr 16
@infatuatedbby We have fun together. I think it's good for boys to have a man around.
1 person likes this
@cherriefic (10399)
• Philippines
3 Apr 16
You're such a sweet neighbor.
1 person likes this
@cherriefic (10399)
• Philippines
3 Apr 16
@TheHorse That's very nice. He's lucky to have you as a grown up playmate.
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Apr 16
I enjoy hanging with my neighbor kid too. Yesterday he went to Ground Squirrel Gardens with me and then he and I cycled to the park.
@amadeo (111938)
• United States
2 Apr 16
Too bad that you were not my neighbor.We would have kept you busy
2 people like this
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Apr 16
A few kids running around?
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50317)
• United States
3 Apr 16
It is good that he wants to learn.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
14 Oct 17
This kid loves to learn.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
3 Apr 16
If we don't pass on the knowledge we possess @TheHorse , a generation will be lost. I'm one of those 'hands on' kinda person, so I made sure my daughter was able to do things a lot of 'girls' never learn how to do. Working on cars was one of them. My dad taught me how, so I passed it on to her.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
14 Oct 17
I see working on cars as a useful skill. An the problem-solving skills learned there can generalize to other areas.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Apr 16
Yesterday my niece stopped by with her daughter and her niece. We spent some time together. While they were here, I explained to the young ones that they should take up jump rope and continue to do it their whole lives, so their bones will be strong when they get to my age. I explained to them about small boned women having problems when they are older, if they don't do something like this. Wish someone had told me. I am planning on buying two cute jump ropes this week and sending them to the girls.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
14 Oct 17
Are they using them?
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
2 Apr 16
Music and sports, I guess.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Apr 16
@teamfreak16 My little guy likes it when I take him on short bike rides.
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Apr 16
Good things, both!
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
2 Apr 16
@TheHorse - It's about all I know well enough to pass on.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (139816)
• Roseburg, Oregon
2 Apr 16
That is really nice of you to help him out. He looks really busy in the picture.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Apr 16
We had a good time. I always enjoy it when he visits. Through the eyes of a young kid, the world is always a very exciting place.
@RasmaSandra (80030)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
2 Apr 16
@TheHorse lucky boy to have you for a friend. No one to pass anything onto at present.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Apr 16
I enjoy it. It all started out with soccer. We'd play in the driveway.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Apr 16
Your little friend certainly looks like he knows what he's doing especially since he's gotten some great advice from you!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Apr 16
He is here again. He's pretty adorable. He wants to go cycling with me. He just took his train drawbridge home.
@sallypup (61219)
• Centralia, Washington
2 Apr 16
That's nice that you have been a father figure to the little guy.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Apr 16
He's a lot "easier" than many of the kid client I work with.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
2 Apr 16
I don't have grandkids but I do enjoy when my kids ask for help with doing something creative. My daughter made some gifts in my studio this Christmas using my paints - her own designs. I might have to take some paint camping this summer and let my sisters grand paint some rocks to take home...
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Apr 16
Sounds like plan. Painting is a great thing to share--to pass on to the next generation or two.
1 person likes this
@Lucky15 (37374)
• Philippines
3 Apr 16
So that was ninja. Music, mybbrother have passed the flute tobhis daughter ;)
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (219071)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Apr 16
That's a wonderful thing! If I can pass music on to any kid, my day/life is better.