#loveMildred

As I've matured these last 38 plus years Christmas has become less about what I'm getting and more about the people I get to see.  Last week I was able to visit one of my very favorite people.  She's my sweet little Grandmother who while pushing 85 still has a very quick wit.  When I was 14 I spent 5 weeks in Lake Jackson with my grandparents and had a blast.  The other adults in my life assumed I was bored hanging with the old people for that amount of time and I'm sure there were moments that seemed slow.  Mostly I just remember being completely spoiled and loving it. 

When I spend time with Mildred I feel like we would have been buddies had we met under any circumstance no matter the geographical location or period of time.  Had I been a little girl in Oklahoma during the 30's we would have made mud pies without soiling our pretty dresses.  Were I a youth in Blevins, AR in the 40's we would have talked boys and looked at glamour magazines.  We could have raised our children together in TX and chit chatted over laundry while our husbands were at work.  I enjoyed her so much as a grandmother during my growing up years.  I always thought she was so pretty with her red fingernails and sparkling jewels.  Oh the jewelry...a visit just wasn't a visit without pulling out all Memaw's jewels.  As much as I've enjoyed being Mildred's granddaughter as a girl I relish it as an adult.  We can literally talk for hours.  After spending a few days with her last week Memaw literally lost her voice. 

Everyone should spend a few days in some sort of home for the elderly.  It boosts ones confidence by leaps and bounds.  We walked the halls, ate in the dining room, and drank our coffee as we "shot the breeze" with all Memaw's friends.  One evening we had entertainment and the next we joined a sing a long.  Both nights I was asked to sing for the others in some capacity and was happy to humor all the old people especially the little lady with big dimples who beamed with pride.  Laughter is always a frequent occurrence when spending time with this Honea.  She tried to describe one of the friends I had made as "the crippled lady."  I had to inform her that "you all look a little cripple."  During one of our visits 5 years ago we were shopping and she was a little disgruntled that I looked better in a pair of jeans than she did.  To which I replied, "Lady, you're 80...if the opposite is true just shoot me!" 

I'm so proud of how Memaw continues to thrive at the age of 85 despite all her physical ailments that leave her weak, almost blind and dependent on others for help.  She's so brave to try new things.  Her most recent endeavor is the purchase of an iPhone.  She's gradually getting to know Siri and adapting very well. 

My cousin Garrett recently told me, "I like to think (Memaw) will live forever."  The thought of anything different is just too difficult to imagine.