Wednesday, August 12, 2009

1913

I got my diploma in the mail today :) I'm still undecided as to whether I want to frame it and hang it or keep it safely tucked away somewhere, but it's nice to finally have either way. It's also good to know that I actually DID graduate with honors, so my graduation announcements and fake business cards aren't telling a falsehood. I never thought that not going back to school would feel so.... normal. We'll see how I feel halfway through Septemeber though, I suppose.

Anyway, I went to visit my grandpa in the hospital the other day. He fell out of his wheelchair last week and ended up with a hairline fracture in his pelvis. The resaon he fell: he was leaning over in order to try and clean up a "spill" in the bathroom so housekeeping at his nursing home wouldn't have to do it.

While I was at the hospital with my dad the nurse came in to give my grandpa his medicine. Before she did though she had him tell her his name and birthdate. His name is John and his birthdate was 23 October 1913. 1913. My grandpa is very close to being 100 years old. And that's pretty sweet if you ask me.

During the visit and after the visit I thought a lot. I thought about my grandpa being thoughful enough to try and clean up after himself and how he's just always been that thoughtful. I thought about how it must be hard to have to give up the ability to truly care for yourself after a certain point. I tried to imagine the bruised pride many elderly people must have. There were many thoughts I had about how much my grandpa has experienced after being alive for 95 years. Then I of course wondered how much I will get to experience and see change if I am lucky enough to live that long. It was a good day for contemplation.

One thing is true though, I love my grandpa and really do hope he makes it to 100, because I know that's a goal he has for himself. And more power to him, really. I guess the visit just also made me really glad that he's my grandpa. He really is a pretty neat person and I'm glad I get to be related to him.