The last 92 years

ben62670

I was just thinking about my Grandma the other day, and was sharing it with cfrizz. She is 92 years old(Grandma, not Cathy:p ), and has experienced the greatest change history has ever seen. When she was a little girl she used to ride in a horse, and buggy. Now they have cars that do over 200 mph stock. She used to wash cloths in a tub with a wash board. We now complain about sticking them in a machine, and pushing a button. Never mind traveling long distances. She didn't even have electricity when she was a little girl!

daboyz

Just think of the next 92, mind boggling. happy for you she's still around.

danger boy

that is amazing to think what people went thru back then.... and to think, they were actually happier and more satisfied with life than we are today with all our toys and what not. makes you sit back and think for a minute.

ben62670

daboyz wrote: »

happy for you she's still around.

I am grateful for that. Every year I go up there, and every year it is harder to leave. Every time I see her I feel like this is going to be the last time I am going to see her. It tears me apart. That woman is one of the greatest women I have ever meet. She is very kind and loving. She must have over 50 great grandchildren, and she never misses a birthday, or a holiday. I come from a family of dairy farmers(Stearns(Mountain Dairy)). My family donated a lot of the land that UCONN has. They named the town after them (Storrs). When she finally goes there will be so many people torn up. She has seen a lot of her family die that was younger than her. One of her daughters. All of her siblings, and almost all of her friends.

sucks2beme

My dad went through the same thing. He was 85 when he passed away this year.
There has been so much change even since I was young.
Someone asked me if my Audio Research was my first tube gear.
Everything was tube when I was young!!! My first stereo was a
tube amp, turntable & speaker combo.
I remember the first tv to come into my house. There was never anything but
a black and white. I remember the first time as an adult I saw the
B&w to color transition in the Wizard of OZ.

The sad part of growing old.
At the small town cemetery for my dad's funeral, I looked around for a few moments.
There in a row were several of my uncles and aunts markers.
As I looked out a little farther, I saw the names of many people I knew growing up there.
Teachers, parents of friends. A guy I used to workfor as a teen.
THAT was a freaky moment. I could see their faces and had to leave quickly.
Only a small town graveyard can have that effect.
Let's not forget our time here is short, so use it well.

ben62670

Yeah there are a lot of old stones where I grew up. They date back to the 1700's with my relatives names on them. It is pretty trippy. Those stones are so old that they have deteriorated to the point that you can barely read them. Sorry about your loss.
Ben

MrNightly

daboyz wrote: »

Just think of the next 92, mind boggling. happy for you she's still around.

Ya, it's Mind Bottling

neomagus00

danger boy wrote: »

that is amazing to think what people went thru back then.... and to think, they were actually happier and more satisfied with life than we are today with all our toys and what not. makes you sit back and think for a minute.

i disagree... i just think that most people have it so good today that we can afford to **** about the little stuff... for example, our satellite lost its ability to pick up local channels a couple days back, and my mom was pissed because the nba stuff is on... i was annoyed, too, for a minute, until i thought... 'wow, this is the biggest problem in my life right now? i have nothing to be worried about except the loss of six channels on my high-tech satellite television service? and i'm actually annoyed by this? what the hell is wrong with me?!'

that's my take on it, anyways...

heiney9

My grandma just passed about 3 months ago and she was 93. She used to tell us some really great stories. It's amazing what she lived thru and she could still function even in today's society. Things were radically different from when she was little girl. She was the last of 13 children and her parents and several of her siblings came over on the a boat from Germany and went thru Ellis Island. One if her siblings was buried at sea because she was still born.

I know the elderly can be a bit of a nusance at times, but they sure are special people when you take the time to really talk and listen to them.

steveinaz

That was a tough generation, optimistic and hard working.

ben62670

heiney9 wrote: »

My grandma just passed about 3 months ago and she was 93. She used to tell us some really great stories. It's amazing what she lived thru and she could still function even in today's society. Things were radically different from when she was little girl. She was the last of 13 children and her parents and several of her siblings came over on the a boat from Germany and went thru Ellis Island. One if her siblings was buried at sea because she was still born.

I know the elderly can be a bit of a nusance at times, but they sure are special people when you take the time to really talk and listen to them.

Sorry about your loss too.
The stories are great, even if you have heard them 50 times. I love to watch Gramda with the wee ones:)

wingnut4772

steveinaz wrote: »

That was a tough generation, optimistic and hard working.

...and they took responsibility. None of this whining blaming stuff we do today. god bless her.

petrym

I have a 97 year old Grandma that tells me everything I do wrong, **** and moans about losing two husbands (first husband died after 25 years together when I was a month old, second husband died after they were together for over 30 years) and her two sons (my Dad and Uncle died at age 64 and 68 respectively), complains about everything, and constantly wonders why God keeps her around. When I call her I point out all the positive things happening in our family and the world, but she always goes back to how miserable things are for her. She's got some serious bank and lives in a great care facility. Why does she focus on the less-than-happy points of her life?

<vent over>

cfrizz

Because she is all alone. Having to bury both husbands & her 2 sons is just heartbreaking. No parent wants to live to see that.

I am so glad my Mom died before my brother collapsed. It would have killed her to see how he ended up for 2 1/2 yrs before he died.

ben62670

Well Grandma made it to 93 this February. I got a call a just a little while ago from my mom. My grandmother isn't doing to good. She is very weak, and can't move her feet. This woman is the most awesome woman I have ever meet. She basically raised me when I was young. She is in CT, and I am in FLA. I can't say goodbye to her because she can't hear anything over the phone. She/we need prayer. She knows she is going to Heaven. I do have a firm grip on the fact that she is 93. If its time I just hope the passing is easy.

Thanks
Ben

McLoki

prayers sent to your grandma and your family..

ben62670

Thanks Micheal. I am a little upset right now, but I am at peace with it. I just got off the phone with my mom, and she said that Grandma is doing a little better. The calm before the storm kinda scares me. She doesn't want to go to the hospital, and my Aunt is respecting her wishes. That is a real hard decision for her. My aunt has been taking care of her for about ten years now. It is going to be hardest for her when the time does come.
Ben

shadowofnight

Hopefully she gets her final wish and passes peacefully at home....I can see where she wouldnt want to be in a hospital for that. She was blessed for making it to 93.......prayers sent.

mule

The things you describe is how my friend Luke and his familly still live.

He is Mennonite of course. The gas crunch really dosen't bother him because he dosen't own anything that requires it. He does have electric but in the barn only, none in the house.

I have never seen him upset because I really don't think he has any stress.

ben62670

Thanks shadow. The thing I fear most is my aunt feeling guilt if she doesn't take her to the hospital. I am also concerned that a relative may be pissed if they know that my aunt respects her wishes. I can't think of any that would be, but the news is going to hit a lot of family members hard. My family is a huge family. There has to be at least 50 grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Ben

tonyb

steveinaz wrote: »

That was a tough generation, optimistic and hard working.

Kinda makes 4 buck a gallon gas seem....mute.

dkg999

Ben - prayers sent for you and your family. Hang in there. It sounds like she has had a wonderful life!

ben62670

Thanks guys for your prayer's. We have been nervous many times, but this time really looked like it was it. I had a strange feeling of calm/acceptance this time, but I feel it was the prayers.
Thanks again.
Ben

hearingimpared

I'm praying several times a day Ben for you and for family and for Grandma to pass quietly happily.

steveinaz

Prayers for Grandma!

Joe08867

Prayers for your Grandma and family.

ben62670

Just an update Grandma is doing so much better. She is going to the hospital today to get an X-ray of her ankle. She may have a fracture just from standing on it. She is 93. Her spirits are good, and she is much better.
Thanks for the prayer's. They really helped.
Ben

cfrizz

Sending you good thoughts Ben.

steveinaz

Alright Granny!

Ricardo

Prayers sent.

Meeks32

I was thinking about what it must have been to live in the old days. I think the biggest luxury we have now is the invention of Air Condition, I dont see how people back in the day could have slept in this florida heat & humidity at night.