I just got back from Michigan after taking care of my elderly grandmother. She was in a rehabilitation center for a fall back in March that resulted in a broken hip/hip surgery.
It is hard to see my Grandma in such a fragile state. I've always seen her as such a fighter and for sure I think my mom and I got that from her. I remember looking up at my grandparents when I was young and thinking I wanted to be as tall as them. Hello! I was taller than them by the time I was in high school. Maybe even younger than that. LOL.
This visit was my way of connecting with my Grandma more. We do butt heads a lot on things as I know she does with most of my family. We enjoyed some nice conversations with each other. I know I didn't get a chance to do so with my Grandpa before he passed back in July 2008. Heck my husband knows more stories from my Grandpa than I did. What's up with that?
I think it's important to pass down stories and I miss that I didn't find out more from my mom before she passed. Our family on both sides, between my husband and I, have both dwindled significantly. Heck 3 people from our wedding have passed in less than 5 years. It's scary to look at pictures and think back to that day and realize they aren't around anymore.
I was spared seeing my mother age. She was such a little spitfire up until the day she died. That's the way I would want to be remembered. That's the hardest part of aging. I can't imagine living to 83 like my Grandma Goetz, but 93 like my Grandma Selleck? Yikes! That woman still goes to Florida every Winter and remembers birthdays. She had a double knee replacement few years back and still looks like a million bucks.
As my family dwindles, it makes me wish more kids were around and that we had stayed more together. I think of how much better mom would've been had she moved here sooner. I hope that as we grow older, we share more with each other, so we have something to pass down to our kids. Too many memories get lost in the shuffle.
I love my family and wish us all the best!
