There was an interesting book some years ago called Generations, an historian's theory that there are cycles in succeeding generations in America that tend to repeat--cynicism/lost, parentally ignored/silent but tending to turn to peers for community effort and support, idealistic--I really don't remember them well.
The book mentioned that idealistic generations are often inspired by a "gray eminence"--a figure from a great grandfather generation that represented their cycle in the turning of this historical wheel. These last couple of days I've been wondering if Ronald Reagan will turn out to be that "gray eminence" for a new, young generation now forming it's destiny.
The theory is probably half truth and half hokum, but it did spawn the term "Generation X". The one coming of age now I think of as the Parentless Generation, and their defining moment will be 9/11.
God truly blessed us with President Ronald Reagan. And I believe he has also blessed us with someone who cannot completely fill the shoes, but is much like him--President George W. Bush, who gave a wonderful eulogy today to honor President Reagan.