Grandparents
It's gotta suck to be old and have everyone around you analyzing everything you do. "That old guy should not be driving." "Their house is filthy. They forget to clean." Even if it's true, it still sucks.
My aunt and uncle were in town from Georgia today, so my mom and John brought them over to my house. I gave them the tour and then we went over to have dinner with my grandparents.
My grandpa is getting old. He will use a walker or cane, but he didn't use to when we were around. His pride was wounded as his mobility deteriorated.
He and his wife live alone in their house. They somehow manage to keep their house up and take care of their yard. They have always been avid gardeners, so there is a lot of work to do.
Because they have so many medical issues, my mom and aunt are strongly encouraging them to move into a retirement home. The crappy thing about that is that no one gets out of a retirement home alive. It's the last stop. Their at death's door. It's nice that they can live in a place together and have someone provide everything for them, but tick, tick, tick. Your kids sell your house out from under you when you move to a retirement home. Then all the stability you have ever worked for is gone. Your house and possessions are gone. At that point, you presumably wouldn't care because you have food in your belly, but there go the memories... I guess it's about preserving what we have left.
I always feel like we, as Americans should model after the Europeans and not necessarily live together as an extended family forever (god forbid) but certainly take care of our grandparents, in our own homes. If I had the means, I would. But I don't, so I don't feel that I'm entitled to an opinion. This Grandparents-getting-old theme is not a new one. People have always struggled with how to care for the esteemed elders/ aging and Alzheimer's inflicted grandparents. Or we could go the opposite direction and send them off in a canoe.
Anyway, we all went out to "dinner" at 4pm. That's the good thing about eating with grandparents, I always have plenty of time to get home afterwards and do homework, chores, or just call it a night. The view from the Edmonds waterfront was fantastic. The food was surprisingly good and it was nice to catch up with my aunt and uncle.
My aunt and uncle were in town from Georgia today, so my mom and John brought them over to my house. I gave them the tour and then we went over to have dinner with my grandparents.
My grandpa is getting old. He will use a walker or cane, but he didn't use to when we were around. His pride was wounded as his mobility deteriorated.
He and his wife live alone in their house. They somehow manage to keep their house up and take care of their yard. They have always been avid gardeners, so there is a lot of work to do.
Because they have so many medical issues, my mom and aunt are strongly encouraging them to move into a retirement home. The crappy thing about that is that no one gets out of a retirement home alive. It's the last stop. Their at death's door. It's nice that they can live in a place together and have someone provide everything for them, but tick, tick, tick. Your kids sell your house out from under you when you move to a retirement home. Then all the stability you have ever worked for is gone. Your house and possessions are gone. At that point, you presumably wouldn't care because you have food in your belly, but there go the memories... I guess it's about preserving what we have left.
I always feel like we, as Americans should model after the Europeans and not necessarily live together as an extended family forever (god forbid) but certainly take care of our grandparents, in our own homes. If I had the means, I would. But I don't, so I don't feel that I'm entitled to an opinion. This Grandparents-getting-old theme is not a new one. People have always struggled with how to care for the esteemed elders/ aging and Alzheimer's inflicted grandparents. Or we could go the opposite direction and send them off in a canoe.
Anyway, we all went out to "dinner" at 4pm. That's the good thing about eating with grandparents, I always have plenty of time to get home afterwards and do homework, chores, or just call it a night. The view from the Edmonds waterfront was fantastic. The food was surprisingly good and it was nice to catch up with my aunt and uncle.
Me, Uncle Mike, Auntie BJ, Grandpa Walt, Mayme
posted by Honey Hair at
9:17 PM
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