My Mammaw- Why aren't they invincible?

[channlluv]

Aggie, I'm so glad your grandmother is doing well. And bonus for you: you've got great genes there. I hope you enjoyed your cry. I think we all need one of those every now and then.

Roxy

[Aggie_Ama]

Hey, you never know, it could be. Maybe she could teach us all a thing or two about slowing down and appreciating this giant gift that is life and the world.

My hero just passed away a few years ago, and there was a photo in the book he wrote of him sitting on a horse, teaching a roping clinic on like his 92nd birthday. I think doing what you love keeps you going much longer.

You know she is legally blind since my mom was 18 and has not driven since but she has been doing it her way for years. She gardened tons when I was little (I remember snapping beans!) and has always done the crossword in pen. She makes a killer homemade pickle, lucky for us all my cousin Jared loves to garden and is trying to get those pickles down. My Dad's mom is not fairing well because she sat on her butt, drank heavy, smoked heavy. She did nothing. Mammaw laughed at the Stroke advocate when I was at the hospital and said "It took 91 years but you finally get to meet me!" Mentally or physically refusing to slow down keeps you young. And maybe you are right, stopping to watch the birds or the flowers doesn't hurt? Maybe there is something in that bird bath, like a slower pace that keeps you sane?

Aggie, I'm so glad your grandmother is doing well. And bonus for you: you've got great genes there. I hope you enjoyed your cry. I think we all need one of those every now and then.

Roxy

Yup, a cry sometimes just washes it all away. I hope I got her genes. My dad's natural mother died when her aorta (sp?) split in her 30's but I like to think I will live to be old and feisty like Mammaw. Her own mother lived to be 89 and her sister well into her 80's. Her dad still moved cattle on his ranch at 79 when died due to a heart attack. They are tough stock.

[Aggie_Ama]

My mom did tell me this morning the doctors were adamant she WILL have another stroke and she should go back on a medicine to help prevent it. My mom's sister and brother sat with their heads in fog not listening but at least my mom heard it. My mom is taking her to see her cardiologist in 10 days for a follow up. Unfortunately, my Mammaw lives with my Aunt who should be listening so she can be on high alert for another stroke. Come on people you only get so many chances and coming out of a stroke unscathed is a miracle! But I will try to focus on the positive, Mammaw is happy to be home.

[shootingstar]

Might be a good idea to phone your grandmother often. I'm sure she would be thrilled to hear from you.

Life is very strange and you never know when a person goes...

For instance, one of my aunts became sick for awhile but got better. Meanwhile we (myself &siblings) got togethr to give my mother a collective birthday gift of plane ticket to fly down to San Francisco. so ticket was booked. I accompanied my mother..her lst plane ride since immigrating to Canada to marry my father.

My aunt died just 1 day before we were scheduled to fly down. So we attended a wake instead... During that vacation I met my 2nd eldest aunt for the lst time. My mother had not seen her since she left China when she was 23, and was shocked to...see an old woman at 75. This aunt died a few years later.

And I might have said months ago here, few days before my partner's mother died, some relatives from Germany visited her. It was a happy time. She also had a few very clear, happy days, singing "Edelweiss" (from Sound of Music) with other residents. She died peacefully the next morning at 93.

So your grandmother to have lived this far...it is impressive.