<!--StartFragment-->
[caption id="attachment_235" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="With Grandpa MarateckI was in Florida this past weekend visiting my grandparents (on my dad's side) at their retirement home. A lot of thoughts have entered my head during my stay. Some sad. Some happy. Some indifferent. They moved here from PA about 2 years ago and I haven't been down to see their new life in Florida. First of all, FLORIDA IS HOT! You'd think I'd be used to the heat being an Atlanta native, but the heat in Florida is like an oven...in Hell...on a July afternoon. "] I usually see the glass half full, and so in order to do this I have to find the cynicism and dry humor in situations. If I can't laugh at the situation, than I'm pretty much done for. My grandparents are in pretty good health, luckily. My Grandpa is almost 88 and my Grandma is 86. They've been married for over 60 years! That's pretty awesome. My relationship with my Grandma on my mom's side is unique, she and I are like best friends. I tell her everything! My paternal Grandparents (the ones I was visiting) and I have a more traditional Grandparents/Granddaughter relationship. I love them and I am very grateful they are still around - fairing pretty well - and are happy at their retirement community in Florida. Have you ever been to a retirement community? It's a really odd experience. As someone who likes entering certain sub-cultures, I tend to look at the situation as a mere experience. I think this stems from my Documentary Film/Photography/Ethnographic/Sociological background and interests. I try to not get too attached to the situation because, well, then it just becomes too real. I think that if this had been a "Last Goodbye" (thank you Jeff Buckley) visit to see them, that would have been a different experience entirely, and I'm so glad it wasn't. This was a quick weekend visit to see their world. My Grandma is in rehab because she broke her hip, but her rehab is on the premises of their retirement home. Okay, so some funny stories: 1. Social politics don't change, even when you're old. Everyone eating in the Dolphin Room (the cafeteria at the retirement home) sort of has their own table that they sit at every day. It's like being in high school all over again, except with canes and a sea of grey hair. [caption id="attachment_236" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="I hope I am sitting at the "cool table!""] 2. Gossip is still prevalent. My Grandpa told me a bunch of stories about "So and so the Gold Digger" or "She's a Democrat!!" (obviously this is the worst thing), or "He used to be a brilliant Physicist, now he's lost his mind!" And, "I don't like him. He's a jerk. He said such and such to me one night when I went up to his table at dinner." And, "This guy was at the Kennedy autopsy." Or, my favorite, "She's sleeping with him, but she used to be with him." I guess no matter your age, there's still room for gossip and social hierarchies. [caption id="attachment_241" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="My Grandma, Grandpa and Dad - there's always time for some juicy gossip!"] 3. What happens when someone dies who is living at the retirement community, I wondered? Well, I found out. On our way to Sunday Brunch in the Dolphin Room, there was a single white rose sitting in front of all the PO Boxes. My grandpa says, "Ugh oh, that's not good!" We walked up to the flower and next to it was the persons name who had passed in the middle of the night with their room number. And then, it was time for brunch! I was thinking to myself, "That is so depressing and weird...the 'notice' that someone died before I eat? I'm not so hungry for waffles anymore." 4. Everyone talks about their ailments. That's pretty much it. Oh, and sports. I didn't know old people enjoyed sports so much - I always thought that was just my Grandpa, but as it turns out, old people love sports teams! If you're my age, you usually ask, "So, what do you do for a living?" If you're their age, it's "How long were you in the hospital." I guess people are just people and simply want to find a way to connect and open a door for conversation. It's just still...macabre. [caption id="attachment_237" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Free blood pressure machine in the hallway; I guess one can never be too sure."] 5. Be active. Old people are still involved with things like Woodworking, Bridge, pizza parties (yes, they have those at the retirement home...sign me up!) and my favorite - Balloon Volleyball. My other Grandma on my mom's side, of whom I have an exceptionally close relationship with, lives in her own place that is attached to my parent's home in Marietta. She is SUPER involved. I think that's the key. Keep your brain and body moving for as long as you can. The only thing is, I'm not so sure I'd want to be in a retirement home when I'm old. I mean, I feel like being around all the other old people would just make me feel...well, old. But I guess all one really wants in this stage of their life is companionship, security, health and...stuff to keep busy with. [caption id="attachment_242" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Those crazy bridge players are at it again!"] 6. Are old people afraid to die? I'm not so sure. I know that I'm afraid of not fully LIVING. That's more of an anxiety for me than death - because there are so many things I want to do while I'm here! My two favorite death quotes: "I'm not afraid of dying. I just don't want to be there when it happens." -Woody Allen Peter Griffin: "Wait! What's heaven like?"
Again, my philosophy is to find the dry humor in this. [caption id="attachment_240" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="Apparently you need to bring your own chair here, too. Lack of seating in my Grandma's hospital room causes my dad to take refuge in a wheelchair, haha."] Anyway, my health has become super important to me. I went on a jog around the retirement home not to be like, "HAHA! Look at me Grannie! I can run and you can't!" But because I was like, "Oh My God! I am young and have my whole life ahead of me and I CAN RUN! DO IT WHILE YOU CAN!" Plus, I was trying to stay on track with my Lap Band. I do want to live as long as I can if I have any say in this! On one hand, it sucks to get old. You're sick and your body isn't working like it did. I spent some time in the Woodworking room with my grandpa's friend, and he said, "A lot of people bring things in here for us to fix. These things need fixing just like we do at our age." On the other hand, it's great to get old because that means...you got the chance to grow old! You lived your life! All of this ties back into my weight loss. I want to be healthy in all the stages of my life. I know that what I am doing now will increase my chances to get old, and even when I'm old - well, maybe my body will last longer because I took care of it early on. It will be interesting to see how my generation ages, with our awareness of vitamins and organic foods and exercise and sunscreen. Will we age better? Live longer? On the flip side, obesity is a HUGE problem for younger people, so some people might not make it to live as long because of obesity health issues. I know this all sounds depressing, but see the glass half full. You have a say in your weight and health to an extent. Do we have control over everything? No. But do I have control over my weight, whether I smoke or drink and drive? YES! For me, my weight has become a #1 priority. Because, the Higher Power permitting, I will be old one day. And I'll look damn good. Just don't honor my death with a single white rose... I want a Jackson Pollock painting, dammit.
<!--EndFragment--> Bookmark/Search this post with: |
|||
Post new comment