"Never have children, only grandchildren."

--Gore Vidal

The difference in being a parent and grandparent reminds me of Mark Twain's quote about the difference between lightning and the lightning bug. He was demonstrating the importance of using the right word instead of the almost-right word; I only borrow it here to signify the magnitude of the matter.

It's one of life's few topics that generate almost universal agreement. Every fellow grandparent I meet relates some version of the "I love my children, but ..." narrative in describing the adoration of their children's children.

"There's nothing like it" is another commonly used phrase by my comrades in grandparenting. And given the collective age, experience and wisdom of a group that's seen and done a serious amount of "somethings," an incomparable superlative like that carries real weight.

The sage quote-maker Anonymous nailed part of the reason it's impossible to understand the love toward a grandchild until you have one: "Grandchildren fill a space in your heart that you never knew was empty."

There's surprise and awe in discovering a new dimension of love. Grandparenting is more than just uncharted territory; it's a whole new map. It exceeds the limits of generally accepted possibilities, and gives new and profound appreciation for Buzz Lightyear's........

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