This week I woke one morning to a text from my 20 year old son Nate. It simply said, “I don’t know why, but I think you should go see great grandma and great granddaddy.”
My grandparents live in a nursing home. At 48, it’s amazing that I have 2 grandparents still living. My grandfather is 99 and grandmother is 94. I realize I should go see them more often, but I took Nate’s advice and went the same day.
My grandparents stay in different rooms, even though they are still passionately in love. My grandmother says he talks too much and would keep her up at night 🙂
When I arrived my grandfather was in the hallway. I stopped, kneeled down and talked with him for a while. Then I pushed him where he was headed, just outside the dining room. He likes to sit and wait until they bring my grandmother to lunch. We sat in front of a big picture window and talked.
My grandfather’s body is still strong. His mind comes and goes but his long-term memory is great. My grandmother’s body is weak, but her mind is excellent.
Our conversation was random most of the time, but I decided to take out my phone and record some of the nuggets of awesomeness from my grandfather.
Here are random thoughts from a 99 year old:
I’m just looking for Pauline (Shortly after I found him wandering the halls. Pauline is my grandmother. They’ve been married over 70 years. I wrote about that HERE.)
I was born in 1912. That was a long time ago now. (When I asked how he was feeling. I suppose that was enough of an answer.)
Time flies so fast (When I talked about his upcoming 100th birthday. I guess that’s true regardless of age.)
I remember fishing in a pond down from our house when I was a boy. (Reminding me to make memories that last.)
I feel a lot older than that (When I asked him if he felt 99)
You turned out to be a handsome man (I guess grandads have to say that.)
What do you think about Pauline? (He asked this several times. I told him I liked her a lot 🙂 )
She’s the prettiest girl I know (Speaking of my grandmother. He’s been saying that all my life)
That window used to be a door I bet. Those are not hard to replace. (As we looked out the window.)
I miss John Reid (Speaking of my father who died a couple years ago)
He never caused me any problems. (Again speaking of my father, who rebelled for many years. Reminding me we mostly remember the good days.)
I don’t think I ever spanked him. Well, maybe once. (I suspect he forgot a few times 🙂 )
I wish Pauline felt better. (He appears to worry about her.)
Those bugs are hard to get rid of (Random thought while looking out the window. He then proceeded to tell me how he would get rid of them. It involved some sawing, a drill, a hammer and some nails.)
I can’t believe the Lord blessed me with someone like Pauline. (Here’s a man who dearly loves his wife. It was challenging.)
We didn’t use to write like that. (Speaking of me typing into my phone taking notes on what he was saying.)
It must have a good memory (Not sure he was using memory in the same sense I would, but it made sense.)
I need to go find Pauline… (I told him I’d help him find his sweetheart.)
Grandparents are awesome!
Surely it’s Grandparents Day somewhere…Tell me about your grandparents…or what it’s like being one!
I like most "Grandparents are awesome!". I think you are lucky ronedmondson. All the people are not lucky like you. My grandfather leave me when i read in 6years. I can't remember his face clearly. 🙁
i only met your grandparents one time when i was visiting jim and georgia they are very wonderful people so kind and so happy it was a honor to have met them god has bless your family with such wonderful grandparents god bless you and yours always
Yes. Thank you.
Hey Ron,
It's very fitting I read this today. Yesterday, I got to spend some time with my 84 year-old nana. My granddad, whom she would have been married to for 65 years in early July, passed away in May. (He would have been 94.) Like your granddad, my nana's mind comes and goes. However, in conversation yesterday, she asked me how Bradley's mom was doing. She remembered that Bradley's dad had passed away and she worries about Bradley's mom and how she is doing. Nana proceeded to say with a quiver in her voice that it was so hard being alone. She said that she wishes she could get over feeling lonely. As I sat and talked with her, I saw the sadness in her eyes of missing her best friend. I am thankful that I got to talk with her yesterday and realize that even though it may be a struggle to remember what happens daily, true love is always remembered. Many lessons to be learned from our elders.
Amen!
Thanks for sharing this post Ron! I am greatly blessed with this message. Both my grand dad and grand mom in my father's side went to be with the Lord. My grand parents in my mothers side are there to motivate me and inspire me always. They bring in loads of wisdom whenever I converse with them.
That's a bless Uma. Treasure those times!
This was one of the most wonderful posts I have ever read. Thank you for sharing this with us all. My mother had Alzheimers and I cared for her for ten years. Her thoughts would ramble but sometimes she had such gems to share with me. You have honored your grandfather as you shared this. Blessings!!!!
Thank you Barbara.
Twitter: KariScare
says:
This post made me smile. My granda just went through a week's stay at the hospital, and it has caused me to reevaluate my relationship with my family. (I'm not close to anyone except my mother.) I'm going to forward this to my mom, she'll enjoy it as well as be able to relate.
Thanks Kari!
I love hearing grandparents reminisce. My grandparents have been married over 60 years now, and are both in their mid-80s. My grandmother has full-blown dimentia that is most likely Alzheimer's disease. She was recently put in a home, although my grandfather fought for two years to care for her by himself, convinced that no one could care for her as well because no one loved her as much as he did.
My grandfather has impressed me through these difficult last years of their marriage. I never pegged him for an emotional man – he is a wise-cracker, a steady beer-drinker, a meat-and-potatoes-and-sports-loving guy – probably the same man he was at 17 when he was charming all the cheerleaders in his high school. This is the man who loved to tease his teenage granddaughters until we wept – not what you would peg a gentle spirit. In a day and age when it is almost approved of to leave your spouse in light of health issues such as dementia, thanks the the "you deserve some happiness" philosophy of the world, he's been a testament of the true meaning of "in sickness and in health."
Sure, he gets angry, frustrated and depressed – he's still a very spry man for his age, and highly social – grandma's inability to socialize makes even the simplest of family functions trying for him. But he has never thought for one moment of cheating on her or abandoning her. He expresses his love for her more clearly in front of the family than I saw in all my years of growing up. Its bitter to watch – but yet how sweet.
I love that too! Good times.
Blog of the Day award Ron! Your notes from visiting with your Granddaddy are life lessons in little snippets as you recorded them. Thank you for sharing.
I lost my 3 of my grandparents at an early age except for my 'Grandma' on my mother's side. I lost both my mother and daddy when I was in my early 20s, so my Grandma was an extra special treasure for me, as she was there at the birth of both of my children and there for their early years. I'm so thankful for that. She was a connection to my past since I had lost both parents. She was in her late 80s at that time, had battled breast cancer (and won;), lived on her own and even babysat for me….great memories for us.
My husband and I will be 1st time grandparents within the next few weeks and sooo looking forward to that blessing….so thankful for that gift from God.
Again, thanks for sharing….
Thank you Melissa.
Ed, this is a lovely story, you are so forturnate to have all four of your grannies alive. when i was 9yrs i had the privilage of meeting my partanal grandmum, she was so sweet, if she has her food, she would call all the grandchildren to join her to eat. Infact your story has shown me how lovely and long lasting true love can be. thanks alot for posting
'Thanks Christie.
This is soooo precious Ron. I always loved going to see them with my Daddy. And of course, I saw them 3 times a week at church also!! What faithful people and fine friends. The Edmondsons have always been so good to my family. We love them and the next time I go to Clarksville, Im going to see them! Thank you for your post. It made my day._In Him, Connie Stem__
Thanks Connie.