Write a Letter to my Grandparents once a month

This goal has led to such an exciting turn in my life.

My grandmother who lives 1.5 hrs away called me out of the blue (she’s called me maybe twice before in my life, and that was for birthdays) and we are setting up a lunch date this fall.

My grandmother who lives in a different state is currently suffering from advanced stages of Alzheimer’s, but every time she speaks to my mother, she tells her how much she enjoyes her notes from me. She just forgets who I am. But the notes make her smile, and that is, after all, the goal. If I can make her day a little brighter, then I have succeeded.

It’s amazing that such a small thing can make such a difference.

Stamped two more envelopes today – I need to stop by the blue box after work and put them in the mail.

I hope they make my Grandmas smile.

I mailed their letters a couple weeks ago. No word from them yet, but I had to get that procrastinating gene from somewhere! :)

I’ll write again in March.

My mom’s mom has Alzheimer’s, as did her mom. She has been living wiht my aunt for several years, and on Christmas day she asked one of her sons, “Who are these people I’m living with?” Her mind has slowly been failing over the past 7 years, but she’s seen a sharp decline recently.

I remember her as one of the sweetest women in the world. When I was young, she would come and stay with us sometimes and I always loved talking to her. Once she made cottage cheese from scratch. Another time, she taught me to make hash browns from scratch too. The summer I was 14, my mother was working and Grandma was living with us, so every day my grandma and my sister and I would get up in the morning and go swimming. Grandma mostly sat by the side of the pool and dangled her feet in. After the morning by the pool, we would all get out and go for a walk around our neighborhood. Then we’d come home and swim some more and sit around the pool reading books or talking. She’s such a wise and loving woman.

When I was 17 or 18 – I forget just when it was – the two of us went out on a Saturday to spend the day together. I forget where we had lunch (I think it was the Red Lobster), and after lunch we went to Putt-Putt to go golfing. She had never been putt-putt golfing before, and we had a wonderful time. On the first hole, she gripped the club like it was a bat and rared back and hit the ball with all her might. The ball went soaring into the air, bounced off the railroad ties that confined the green, soared over the fence and bounced off the hood of a car in the parking lot. We we both roaring in laughter!! After golf, we went to the mall to have our pictures taken in one of those photo booths. I still have the picture on my desk and it makes me smile every time I think about that wonderful day we had together.

She has lived life beautifully and spread love to everyone around her. If I can be half as graceful and God-loving as she is, I will be a happy woman.

It’s so sad now to see her mind declining – I wish there were some cure. Her neurologist told my mother and aunt that there will be a cure within 5 to 10 years; the medical field is right on the edge of a major breakthrough. In the meantime, I pray for her and love her and I wish I was nearer so I could see her sometime. She is a beautiful person.

...and the letters are in the mail.

Or, they will be after I drop them off on my lunch break.

Yesterday I mailed a letter off to my Grandpa.

Today I plan to write to both my Grandmas. One of them has Alzheimers, so I had to check that she still knows who I am. My mother, who recently spent a week with her, assures me that she does. I’d hate to write her a letter to try and connect with her and wind up having the effect of making her feel paranoid, y’know? But, that’s a moot point because she does in fact remember me.

My other grandma – on my dad’s side – is where it will get interesting. I guess everyone’s family has one scandal or another, and the current scandal on my dad’s side revolves around my grandma. But she’s still flesh and blood and I have to believe that she’s doing the best she can from the world-view that she has developed over the years. Besides, with all that’s going on, it might just make her feel good to know that someone is thinking of her and loves her.

In any event, I got both their addresses and I’ll be sending letters out today. To be perfectly honest, I’m kind of excited about this whole prospect.