I have a small story to tell you.
As some of you know it was my birthday last week and I had a great time what with the surprise party under the cunning guise of a double date and going out to dinner with my family and friends. And yes, amidst it all there were presents, and this story is about one of them.
My great aunt Ros sent me a card with ten dollars in it and a message in her beautiful but shaky handwriting: Abigail dear, have a very successful year and be happy. Love Aunt Rosalind. She’s over eighty, and lives on her own, and, as far as I know, is alone except for on Saturdays when she and her friends go out for lunch.
As testimony to how time passes and wanes, she has lost her brother, my grandfather, who died five years ago, and her mother, whom she nursed in her home until her death. And this is only what is known to me, for her age ensures many more of her family and friends have passed away.
I called her not half an hour ago to thank her for the card. She asked me about how my birthday went, about school and about my family. The moment she sensed the conversation was wearing thin and she had no further questions, she began to farewell me, saying in her calm, quiet voice: “Thankyou for remembering me.”
And I'm not ashamed to say that those words made me cry.
Age is something that has always frightened and moved me. I fear growing old, and I fear venturing to places like nursing homes, where it is most evident. One of my most vivid memories is of an old lady I saw in the nursing home of my great grandmother, who, when asked by a carer if she wanted anything, replied, “I just want to be free.”
I don’t know exactly what I want to communicate by telling this story – but I know it has something to do with making contact with those who appreciate it and need it most. Even though the division between the old and young is simply life at work, the gratitude in my great aunt Ros’ voice made bridging the gap worth it a hundred times over, and all it took was a phone call.
I urge you to do the same.
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Comments
i or my dad call my grandparents every week, but there are so many old people in my family that i don't know because they're too frail to travel and we can't afford the time or money to see them often, and it is sad. but even if my nuclear family doesn't see them more than 3 times a decade, busybodies run in the family (LOL) so someone in my huge family remembers them and talks to them...
i like your writing style and your literature tag thing too XD "eeba wrote this" so true.
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its not over 'til shinji cries
My contact with my elder relatives is so slight, I barely remember even half of them. Usually I find some reason to get out of seeing (though usually it is a valid reason, for the most part) them, and as a result... my bonds with them are very weak compared to some.
In fact, I had an uncle who just died, and I went to his funeral, only having seen him twice in my life. Well, two visits that are to my recollection. I'm sure I was there when I was a baby.
I don't know what it is. I feel so hesitant to approach my family anymore. It could have to do with the fact that my parents recently split up, and I can't stand, say, the fact that my mother's side of the family has intense antagonism towards my father. It's that simple fact that makes me withdraw, I guess.
That doesn't excuse the fact, however, that at the aforementioned funeral, everyone knew me, but I didn't know them.
Oh, I'll just shut up. I don't know where I'm going with this comment.
That aside, this is beautifully written--as is everything else you compose.
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I'm just a lil' bit dyslexic. :l Bear with me plzkty.
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All the nerves of the patients bathe in shock and shame,
cuz I'm the t r i g g e r that'll start this game.
Families are funny things.. we're having a lovely little conflict in mine at the moment becuz my family isn't meeting up with those on my dad's side this christmas.... now they're mad at us xD
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".... Perhaps pants are in order."
My grandmother on my dad's side calls nearly every night.. always during dinner cuz that's when she knows she can pin us down. She's.... less in need of contact than Ros >_> She's one of those people who just can't see the lighter side of life and it pains me. But there's one in every family xD
Teehee.. Eeba did write this
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".... Perhaps pants are in order."
All family situations are very different.. If I know my relatives don't care for me I don't really seek them out.. like... I have this crazy Aunt.. wow. Let's just not go there >_>
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".... Perhaps pants are in order."
Your situation is very different, and that would make it much harder. My aunt recently divorced from her husband, and it's been interesting to see how we've reacted to it. I know my immeadiate family was always very fond of him, and it's been very sad... but I don't know how some of the others took it. And I think it does excuse you.. I don't know directly myself, but I'm sure that would be very painful.
I remember at my great grandmother's funeral one of my dad's cousins was walking around with a piece of paper with the family tree on it and introducing himself to everyone and ticking their names off lol. He's one of the odd ones xD
...and thankyou
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".... Perhaps pants are in order."
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