On Growing Grey

This was originally posted in August, but I have moved it up the Queue to now, because the man who inspired this post passed away yesterday, and I have nothing more to say besides this post, except. I will miss you Grandpa.

When I am wrinkled with grey hair and beautiful and wise

I hope that I am not only alive but living.

I am sitting here listening to my Grandpa sing "Froggy Went a Courtin'" while playing the guitar. It is on my SUNDAY MUSIC playlist on my ipod. I have never met a man quite like him. He is in his 80's and he is full steam ahead, living his life. He is still learning, still teaching, still serving, still involved in his community, still playing gigs, still breathing.

I don't see him very often, but I know that he intends to live until the day he dies. He has survived heart attacks, open heart surgey and a mini stroke. He cares deeply about his deceased wife and his family. When we are with him, our hope is buoyed, our commitment to each other and to our family is renewed, and we leave better people than when we came. Our family reunion was last summer, but my daughter and I were just talking about it the other day, and last night a friend brought up a farm where we had part of our reunion, and he has been on my mind ever since.

When I am getting on in years and filled with energy and vigor, and my children are raised, and I am a rocking hot grandma, I hope for a few things.

First, I hope not to forget that I wrote this. I am thinking if I store it in my important documents folder, that it will abide.

Second, I hope that I am not a burden to my family, but I also don't want to feel abandoned. I hope that if my husband passes before me, that I will be able to grow old with friends or my sisters. There is a reason why I loved the Golden Girls so very much....that would just be so fun.

Third, knowing what it is like to be living my life, and how far I am extended, I know that when I am old, my posterity will not be focused on me. Despite that, I hope to be technology-saavy enough to be able to write to my children and grandchildren individually. I am pretty sure I will have time for this. Even if they don't have time to read my emails or write me back, they will know that I am there, that I care, and someday when they are 28, they will understand what an important example that was to them.

Fourth, in order to write to my posterity, I will need to stay up on my current events, so I hope that I can stay well educated about the present, and follow India Arie's advice: "And if Old People would talk to
Young People, it would make us
Better People, all around....
(Yes it would)"

I hope that I will be not only alive, but LIVING until I continue living without my rockin hot grandma body. And I have that hope because of my Rockin Hot Grandpa's Example. Thanks BJ.