Why hello. For those of you who frequent the blog you may remember me writing about my grandparents and their bout of poor health. Well thankfully, after a pacemaker, pneumonia, congestive heart failure and a stent in a convalescent home, both of my grandparents are happily back in their own home. I got to visit with them on Tuesday evening and I swear they say the darnedest things.
To start, my grandfather was telling me about physical therapy. He said, "They took us outside, even the old women. I don't know why they were there, they are pretty old." He is 96. He also told me about the type of chickens we should have, you know he had 300 chickens on the farm in Iowa.
Then my Grandma starts in about "weed grass", you know grass that grows really long like weeds? Duh. And "If we make it to June, 30th we'll be married 73 years." If you make it?! I kindly reminded her that October 26th (our wedding day) comes after June 20th, and since she promised they would make it to the wedding then she has no choice but to make it to June 30th.
It is strange for me to see my grandparents age essentially overnight. Up until 4 months ago they were fully independent and 50 years old in my mind. Now they aren't exactly independent.
While I was there arrangements were being made for my Grandma to go to the doctor while someone sat with my Grandpa. Having all of his faculties about him still, he chimed in and said, "No one needs to sit with me. I've been inside for two months, can't I just go along for the ride? I'll sit in the car and watch the people. That's all I want to do." The expression on his face was like that of a child who had been told they can't have dessert because they didn't eat dinner. Utter defeat. My heart broke. I suppose it really is the simplest things in life.
We all agreed that his idea was a great one and the smile that came across his face was priceless.
It was time for me to leave, but beforehand my Grandma wanted to package up some brownies to bring home to Aaron. 92 and she's in the kitchen making the best brownies in the world. While gathered in the kitchen my Grandpa stepped away from his walker and opened his arms to me for a big hug and all he said was, "Oh Katie girl."
There are two things about this moment that I'll treasure-
The first: I've always gotten hello and goodbye hugs but this is the first "just because" hug I can remember.
The second: Aaron has always called me "Katie girl" i might be so in trouble for sharing this oh well with no prior knowledge that my Grandpa does too.
This week has been filled with several blessings all of which remind me to appreciate the small things even more: Parker's tumor shrinking, Aaron coming home from the fire assignment and visiting my Grandparents outside of a hospital for the first time in months. I hope you each have a most wonderful Thursday and are able to take a minute to appreciate the small things in your life, we certainly don't do it often enough.
See you tomorrow!
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