The door crashed open and my grandson thundered in.

“Hiya Grandpop,” he yelled, almost crushing my frail frame in a bear hug.

Just before I disappeared in his arms, I’d noticed he’d added another ring to his right ear, and was sporting a huge nose ring. I’ve learned to pretend I don’t notice such things but that didn’t stop me from thinking how back in my time, big strogn Grandpa would fetch a fresh green switch from the apple tree and warm my behind.

Releasing me from his suffocating hug, he made a beeline for the fridge to get the icecream he knew I’d got him Did we eat between meals back then? Who’d heard of cholesterol?

As I look at my grandson today, I can’t help but find consolation in the thought that similar horrors will be visited on him by his grandchildren when he’s 90.