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"Don't get old."
Yesterday, my grandmother told me, "Don't get old." It made me sad. Not only because of course if I am lucky I /will/ get old someday, but also because it shows just how bummed my grandmother is with things as they stand right now. She and my grandfather enjoyed good health far longer than a lot of other people get to, and while I don't think they took/take it for granted, I do think it hits a little harder now that things are tougher. She is 86 years old and this is the first time in all of her life that she hasn't wanted to leave the house and hasn't done her own laundry.
I'm serious. Even when she had foot surgery she was usually back downstairs doing laundry in a matter of days. It's a matter of pride with my grandmother - perfectly washed clothes, hung to dry on the lines outside, errorlessly pressed. Now my aunt is doing my grandparents' laundry and their house is messier than I have ever seen it. It's a little hard to watch.
She also told me that when she was feeling really REALLY sick (when she went into the hospital before Christmas) and she was riding in the ambulance to the emergency room, she told the EMT that she wanted to die. She also apparently called to my father and told him to "come get your mother."
I realize in my head that my grandparents will not live forever, but I really don't like these sorts of reminders in my heart. With my brother and SIL in South Carolina, my grandparents are pretty much all of my "core people"up in here. My aunt and uncle are here, and I love them very much, but we are not nearly as close. Besides, I know that they are planning to relocate to a warmer location once my grandparents are dead.
It's funny, because we came here to New England so we would be closer to family. Then my mother moved to South Carolina, my great-uncle died, my father died, Jen's parents moved to Florida, and now my grandparents are slowing down. Ouch.
I'm serious. Even when she had foot surgery she was usually back downstairs doing laundry in a matter of days. It's a matter of pride with my grandmother - perfectly washed clothes, hung to dry on the lines outside, errorlessly pressed. Now my aunt is doing my grandparents' laundry and their house is messier than I have ever seen it. It's a little hard to watch.
She also told me that when she was feeling really REALLY sick (when she went into the hospital before Christmas) and she was riding in the ambulance to the emergency room, she told the EMT that she wanted to die. She also apparently called to my father and told him to "come get your mother."
I realize in my head that my grandparents will not live forever, but I really don't like these sorts of reminders in my heart. With my brother and SIL in South Carolina, my grandparents are pretty much all of my "core people"up in here. My aunt and uncle are here, and I love them very much, but we are not nearly as close. Besides, I know that they are planning to relocate to a warmer location once my grandparents are dead.
It's funny, because we came here to New England so we would be closer to family. Then my mother moved to South Carolina, my great-uncle died, my father died, Jen's parents moved to Florida, and now my grandparents are slowing down. Ouch.