She was attracted by the seasons and the lush golf courses (Also Step-grandfather really likes grandmother's family).
She was hesitant to move to the area because it will mean she is farther away from her own mother. Although, G.G. Maddie, who lives on her own, is doing pretty well- she has tons of friends, takes those bus trips to Vegas on a regular bases. She's got her own life.
Although, it's true, she's shrunk some over the years. She's mighty short and her eye sight is not what it should be and she's given up driving.
This is a family joke "How is Great Grandmother doing?" "Well, her eye-sight is not what it used to be." (She's 101, now)
A quick story about my grandmother's mom- about 5 years ago she had a mild illness and I guess given that she was 96 at the time, her church reasonably thought she was heading into her last birthday.
For her birthday- which is in May, her church choir came to her house to sing a song- (any song she wanted- she chose a Christian hymn she had once heard Don Ho sing while on a trip to Hawaii- the choir didn't know it, but they found the music and learned it).
They gathered in her bedroom and sang to her.
The next year, she was still alive and the Church Choir did the same thing. She could have easily made it to church- but now they'd started something.
Five years later the tradition has continued (I mean- given that she's 101, who's going to pick the birthday the choir decides they don't need to come to her home to sing her her birthday hymn?).
My grandmother tells the story as if the Choir is stuck. This lady is just not going to have her last birthday already.
Grandmother cackles and sips her scotch.
One thing I love, one thing that makes me happy is to hear any member of my mother's family laugh.
I like to hear them laugh together. My grandfather (grandmother's first husband) had the most cheerfully manic sounding laugh. I think that's what I like about all of them. They are mighty high strung and interesting people (conflicted, intense, hard on themselves and each other, emotionally repressed, strangely idealistic and like most families- basically nuts).
When together (members of that family) there's a buzz in the air. An intensity that makes it hard to stay in the room. I tend to jump in for a bit, and then excuse myself (bathroom is always nice, or kitchen puttering, although there's often heavy competition for who's going to do the dishes)- then I slip outside and pace around and then rejoin for another round.
It's not what people are saying- it's the energy. Hard to explain- or maybe not. Maybe this is a normal family phenomenon.
Maybe that's why the laughing is so great- it's a release. And those on this side of the family, they don't fake laugh.
They'll smile politely and say something like "well, imagine that"- (they don't diss any efforts at humor). But they only laugh when they are truly amused and it is a cackle or a giggle, it's something that jumps out and can lead to watery eyes and coughing fits.
Their sense of humor often runs to the slightly wicked or twisted (but in a sneak up on it way- decorum and decency- not in a Christian sense, but in a - I don't know what to call it- it's kind of their own thing & hard core).
So, grandmother is in N.C. (and btw she's always been "Grandmother"- none of that Nana, Mamaw, Granny business for her)- and my sister is getting ready to get married.
She's throwing a bridal shower next week and there will be 4 generations of women/moms/grandmothers/sisters/daughters attending.
GG Maddie will be coming out for the wedding- that will make 5.
Kind of amazing- to me anyhow.
Happy mom's day- moms and kids and all.
p.s.
Awais gave me a lovely mother's day card this morning. Parts of it fell off earlier this weekend- and we were out of glue, so he used syrup for the repair. So, clever.
