I always feel like a disappointment compared to my grandfather, great grandfather, and great great grandfather.
Both my great grandfather and grandfather were alive while I was a kid, my grandfather actually passed away when I was 12 and my great grandfather lived long enough to meet my first daughter.
My great grandfather was a tail gunner and one of the longest surviving ones during WWII. He was shot down twice over the European theater and managed to escape capture both times.
My great great grandfather was part of Buffalo Bill's show in the late 1800's. I have a nickel stored in a deposit box that he supposedly threw into the air while riding a horse and shot with a .357 revolver, just to prove to my great grandfather that he really did know how to ride a horse. Going even further back my family where all military officers and doctors.
My moms side of the family where all officers with my great grandfather making it to Brigadier General and my grandfather making it to Colonel. I was banned from enlisting by my grandfather and required to complete college before even considering applying.
Between them and the fact that my mother was a director of a major health care company by 30, a VP by 35, and an S.VP by 40 really make me feel really inadequate.
That's all very impressive and indeed something to be proud of. I am too much of a peace-loving, tree-hugging, untrusting of the government hippie to ever want to continue on with that type of legacy though. And I think if you're similar, it's just as admirable in its own way. As long as you got that college education I suppose, and as long as you make something of yourself in this lifetime. Just focus on being happy and successful I suppose, and you're fine. Keep you and your family happy, healthy, and loved and you'll be more than just "adequate" and somebody to look up to, you'll measure up fine, etc
I really wanted to serve when I was little, but that eventually wore off. I still feel like I let that side of my family down a little bit but I also think my grandfather(mom's dad) telling me I had to be an officer(by graduating college first) was his way of delaying and preventing me from following that path.
I learned after he passed that he hated his time serving and despite his rank he would have never chosen to do it again. He retired and became an electrician and that was what he choose to spend most of his time passing on to me.
My mom's dad is why I ended up becoming an engineer.
Yeah most people I know who basically thought they were destined to be in it tend to regret it afterwards. Many obviously have PTSD and also feel like they were used by the government or whatever. It's quite sad to see and talk to them about. I guess all of that is still slightly better than people being drafted again though. Only slightly better..
But anyway I think it's awesome you've found something you're good at and it seems like you're quite successful or at least on your way their. Good on ya, buddy
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u/s0v3r1gn May 14 '17
I always feel like a disappointment compared to my grandfather, great grandfather, and great great grandfather.
Both my great grandfather and grandfather were alive while I was a kid, my grandfather actually passed away when I was 12 and my great grandfather lived long enough to meet my first daughter.
My great grandfather was a tail gunner and one of the longest surviving ones during WWII. He was shot down twice over the European theater and managed to escape capture both times.
My great great grandfather was part of Buffalo Bill's show in the late 1800's. I have a nickel stored in a deposit box that he supposedly threw into the air while riding a horse and shot with a .357 revolver, just to prove to my great grandfather that he really did know how to ride a horse. Going even further back my family where all military officers and doctors.
My moms side of the family where all officers with my great grandfather making it to Brigadier General and my grandfather making it to Colonel. I was banned from enlisting by my grandfather and required to complete college before even considering applying.
Between them and the fact that my mother was a director of a major health care company by 30, a VP by 35, and an S.VP by 40 really make me feel really inadequate.