Gregory Paul Machado, Eldest Grandson

A Toast to 60 Years Of Loving Teachers

I would like to start out by thanking all of you: Friends, Family and Loved Ones for being here this afternoon to help us in Honoring my Grandparents, Nazario, and Susana Hernandez on this wonderful day.

Just think about it "60 Years of Marriage"

When my mother asked me if I would say a few words tonight as the oldest grandchild I eagerly accepted the opportunity.

For those of you that know me well you are certainly not shocked that I am delighted with any chance I get to speak.

Over the past few months I have been given an opportunity to do a little public speaking some of the groups were small, 5 or 6 people and others were quite large. It was all simple to do because it was just business; I always knew what I was going to say, and how I was going to say it.

But tonight is different… because it's not just business. How do you say in just a few words anything about a life that has taken 60 years to build… and do it any kind of justice.

I was however a bit concerned about what I should say tonight so I turned to my loving wife, Lori and asked for her advice. Her answer was sweet and honest.

She said to me:

    Ø Don't be too funny
    Ø Don’t try and be too articulate
    Ø Don’t try and be cute
    Ø You shouldn’t be too creative
    Ø And try not to act too smart

In other words "Just be Yourself".

Being a Grandchild I look at my own Grandparents with tremendous admiration. I can't begin to thank them enough for everything that they have done for me, and all of my family. The warmth and loving friendship that they have offered all of us for so many years is unmatched by anything I have ever seen, or could ever have imagined.

In fact the list of things that they have done for most of the people in this room would be too long to mention; and even I can't talk for that long.

To list all of the impact that they have made in all our lives would take so long, that I have decided to focus in on the Life Lessons that they have taught me over the span of my own life… a much shorter subject.

So Here Goes: The Important Things That They Have Taught Me.

    • Work hard; you will always appreciate what you have more if you do
    • Love God; every one needs to believe In a greater power
    • Take good care of your family
    • Enjoy life; we are only here for a short time, you should make It count
    • Keep a clean house; both inside and out
    • Take good care of your friends
    • Don't take anyone for granted; everyone counts
    • Always say "Please & Thank You"
    • Learn everything you can and never be afraid of wanting to try something new
    • It is OK to dream about big things as long as you are willing to work for them
    • Watch out for your neighbors; we all live here together
    • Wash your hands before you eat
    • When returning a dish that you have borrowed from someone make sure it is not empty
    • Love your Kids, your Grandkids and your Great Grandkids
    • Save Your Money ( I was absent for that part)


In closing I would like to share a story with you: Several years ago I was watching a show on PBS, it was about urban decay in our country and a large part of the social blame had to do with the examples that we set for our own kids. In many parts of the country particularly in the inner cities children grow up never seeing their own parents and grandparents working, but what they do see is a life of food stamps and welfare checks. Naturally these children grow up thinking that that is the way that things should be.

I called my mother to share this heart breaking story with her and she reminded me about a time when I was very young and she asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I answered a "Sign painter and a Doctor". When she asked me why two jobs? I answered "Doesn't every one have two jobs?"

I can still remember watching my Grandfather coming home from his day job, eating dinner, and leaving for his other job at night. I recall my Grandmother; always making sure he had a hot dinner, something to drink, a packed lunch and a clean uniform for not one job, but two.

I asked myself why; why, do they work so hard? They worked like that so they could give the people that they loved a better life. They always put other peoples needs in front of their own.

Why? Because they loved us all so much, all they wanted was to make sure we all had what we needed.

I guess the point of my story is that these are the kind of values that those two wonderful people instilled in us; working to make us better people has always been their dream.

For the past few years I have done quite a bit of sales and leadership training, during which my number one message has always been LEAD BY EXAMPLE; now I know where I learned it. I watched these two wonderful people live that same message.

To Nazario & Susana… I mean Papito & Tuta;
Thank you for all the life lessons that you have taught us. We love you both.

"WE WISH YOU THE BEST LIFE HAS TO OFFER. THE HOLY UNION THAT GOD BLESSED 60 YEARS AGO WAS ONE OF THE LORDS FINEST & PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THE TWO OF YOU HAVE BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO ALL OF US AND WE ARE ALL BETTER PEOPLE FOR HAVING HAD YOU IN OUR LIVES, THANK YOU SO MUCH!"

Gregory Paul Machado