Jetsons Meet the Finstones

i literally felt my blood pressure rising as i saw her slowly, but willfully pull out in front of me* it would have been different if she had planned on speeding up or turning soon -- but for a long journey i was forced to drive behind an old lady going only seven miles an hour in a thirty-five mile an hour zone* it is not that i was already speeding or anything, but i had places to go and things to do and to me time meant the world*

that is when it hit me like a mac truck coming one hundred miles an hour at my face* to me time meant everything -- but to this older citizen of our small town time was everything*

michael held the hand of his father while he watched the man who raised him slowly fading away in a hospital bed* michael's father had always been there for him throughout his life -- the little league baseball games -- the high school football games -- his graduation from west point military academy -- and the wedding of the love of his life* dad had left him the family business to run, but beyond all the times that michael turned away his father's help and fought for his independence -- "just let me do it on my own" -- michael felt needy and helpless now more than ever before* how would he ever fill his father's shoes*

one said, "he'll change everything"* someone else stated, "what were they thinking bringing him in here?"* still another explained, "he's just a baby"* the new company ceo was only 34 when he was brought on to the multibillion dollar industry* the company needed a fresh need look on their product and the young man came highly recommended and exceptionally qualified for the position* too bad no one else felt that way* leading men and women twice his age and with double the number of years experience was a difficult task -- but the new ceo was up to the challenge and ready to empower all those serving with him*

what happens when two cultures collide -- when young meet old and old meet young* young men and women today struggle respecting those who preceded them in life* due to the internet age the young now days have access to far more knowledge and information than older citizens so why should they respect ignorant elders who really don't know that much* everything an older man or woman has he or she worked for -- respect in this world didn't come easy to us so why should we give it away to some little bratty kid*

i wonder what the jestsons and flinstones would have done if they had met each other in another time and another place* could there be a mutual agreement between fred and george* could they share in each other's values* i think that's the key -- understanding and sharing the values of different cultures -- whether it is a matter of time -- dependence -- importance -- or anything else - we want what matters to us to matter to someone else --therefore we must respect (not so much agree or accept) but respect another culture's worth*