I love to read. Always have. My appreciation for books began as a young child when my mom subscribed to the Dr. Seuss book club. Every month, I was giddy with excitement when a shiny new book arrived in the mail. Each presented a magical world with colorful illustrations, silly rhymes, and intriguing characters. As a military family, resources were pretty tight but my parents understood the importance of literacy and made the investment. My Dad would always say, “If you can read, you can do anything.”

Well, I’m not sure about anything, but I do know that reading has played a significant role in my life.  Books have introduced new worlds and cultures, added adventure and mystery, and celebrated the human spirit. It’s not surprising that I spent a great deal of time at the public library as a child. Reading programs and story time kept me engaged and thriving.

As an adult, I committed to reading two books at the same time. One is always a fun read: the latest bestseller, a murder mystery, or an intriguing memoir. The second focuses on a topic that supports personal or professional growth. As a college student, I quickly learned that some of the most powerful readings were not necessarily ones I would pick for myself. And since lifelong learning is a priority, it’s important to step beyond comfort zones.

When retirement approached, I daydreamed about the hours of uninterrupted reading time. My library was abundantly stocked with an assortment of diverse materials (both hard copy and electronic). I could finally lose myself in literature without any feelings of guilt. All I needed was a comfy chair and an interesting book.

However, I never envisioned my plans would include the “Pokémon Extra Deluxe Essential Handbook.” Yep, it was ordered from Amazon and I have been diligently reading and taking notes.  It’s like being a student all over again. Why??   Well, I have a six-year-old grandson who means the world to me and is enthralled with all things Pokémon. He reads books, collects trading cards, watches cartoons, creates sketches, and wears t-shirts. The funny thing is his dad was also a big fan when he was younger. Apparently, this world of Japanese anime has withstood the test of time.

When my little guy visits, he wants to talk Pokémon. And lately, he has been asking to play a game called 20 questions. You know how it goes…he thinks of a Pokémon character and I ask questions to determine the one he selected (there are only 900). The problem is that I lack the knowledge to muster any type of reasonable guess. Despite my best effort, a look of disappointment eventually appears as he realizes I don’t know what I’m doing. “It’s okay NaNa”, he sighs.

So, while this anime world holds little interest and makes my head spin, it’s important to him. And that’s what really matters. Staying connected to grandchildren requires listening and positive communication (just like any other relationship). If we want to bridge the generation gap, sharing common interests is key. So, I’ll keep reading about these pocket monsters, reminding myself that it’s good for brain health to learn new things. And though I may never be a Pokémon expert, I hope to be the type of grandparent who is lovingly connected and relevant in their children’s lives.