O for Old People

O is for Old People.  We are in Tennessee spending time with my in-laws.  Part of visiting them, means I get to see my mother in-law’s parents.  They are both 90 years old and they have been married 70 years.  These two people are by far, the most amazing old people I have ever met.      

Grandma Beulah is an absolute treasure.  It doesn’t get better than her.  This woman is so beautiful.  Her smile lights up her entire face.  Her skin glows with elegance and grace.  Then she opens her mouth.  She has to be the funniest woman I have ever met. 

This trip is the first time she has ever met Little Man.  She noticed he was wearing a wrestling shirt which sparked this conversation:

Grandma: Do you wrestle?

Little Man: Yes ma’am.

Grandma: Do you like that?

Little Man: Yes ma’am.

Grandma: That is really nice.  It gives you a way to defend yourself.  Too bad that won’t work.  Today, you need a gun to defend yourself.  

Little Man: <<jaw drops>>

A little later she turned to Chief and starting asking about Chief’s dad.  My mother in-law Donna (Grandma’s daughter) was also in the room.  Grandma Beulah starts asking the Chief if he is going to take care of his dad when things start to get tough.  Here is how that conversation went.

Grandma: Are you going to take care of your dad when he needs you to?

Chief: Why do I need to take care of him, that is what mom is for!

Grandma: Donna has enough problems of her own.  Her knees are bad, and the doctor put her weight loss pills...and well, obviously those aren’t working.

Then later, she was talking about the assisted living place they just recently moved into.  She was telling me how much she hates it.  Here is how that one went...

Grandma: We just go to the lunchroom for all of our meals.  I try to visit with some of the ladies there.  Sue is a nice Christian woman, and I stop and say hi to her every day.  Other than her, I have to sit and stare at the three old men on this side and the two old men on this side.  Who wants to look at them while they eat?  NOT ME!  They are all hunched over and they are just yuck.  Do you think I want to eat my last meals having to stare at those old men? I SURE DON’T!  And the food! I was excited when I heard about the pizza. Then they put it in front of me...that pizza ain’t fit for a dog.  It wasn’t no pizza.  It was a little round thing they call pizza. The put a little marina on it and cover it with cheese and call it pizza.  Not even fit for a dog I tell ya.   

Me: Do they have games for you to play, or things to do with the other people?

Grandma: Well, yes.  I don’t want to hang out with those people in wheelchairs, though.  That doesn’t sound like a good time to me.  When you get old, there is nothing to look forward to anymore.  There is no reason for me to live anymore.  I don’t do anything.  I am ready to be with God.  Hanging around here is just ridiculous.  There is nothing fun about getting old.  After the age of 70, people should just die.  My days just run together now.  It don’t matter what tomorrow is because it’s just like the next day.  Living in this world is just terrible.  I can’t believe anyone would want to even bring a baby into this world.  This is a sick sick place.  There is no room in the prisons anymore.  You know what the bible says?  Shoot ‘em.  You shoot someone, you should be shot.  No need to mess with the prison.  Just shoot ‘em all.  There is just no punishment anymore.  People get away with everything.  Even if they find the Boston bombers, it won’t matter.  They will only be in prison for a couple years and then they will get released because they need the room.  Nobody pays for anything anymore.  

The best part...every time Grandpa started to tell a story he would get a few minutes in and she would cut him off with, “Now that’s enough of that story...” or she would get all over him for mumbling and not speaking loud enough for her to hear.  He is just as precious as she is.  He just sits back and lets her run the show.  A man with a lot of experience I imagine. 

Can you imagine being married for 70 years?  These two are quiet the blessing.  I know Grandma Beulah is ready to be done on this earth, but there is a reason she is still here.  I wonder if it is because she puts joy in the lives of others.  She is a woman that speaks her mind.  If you are living in sin, she is going to tell you.  She is a woman that speaks her mind.  This means that sometimes her tongue is harsh.  THAT is what I love about her.  And Grandpa...I just want to squeeze him.  He just sits and listens to her.  If he gets a word or three in, he considers it a daily accomplishment.  He is just happy sitting next to her...listening.  These two are so special to my heart, and I am not even biologically related.  I feel privileged to get to spend time with them...and always look forward to the next visit.  Not all old people are pleasant, but these two are by far the crème de la crème.