Wednesday, October 17, 2007

turkey and other old birds...

On Thursday afternoon, we're headed back to the coast for a postponed Thanksgiving, and among my priorities, aside from seeing my Parents, and a Thanksgiving Feast with a big ol' Turkey with all the finxins, is to introduce my 94 year old Grandmother to my, *GASP* same sex partner... YIKES! When we were 'home' in August, I visited her alone and she gave me a real 'what for' for not taking him with me.

I LOVE my visits with this tough as nails old bird... (Once after driving herself to the emergency after dislocating her shoulder, and not approving of the Dr on duty, she returned home, put it in traction herself - Luckily she was a long time Registered Nurse and knew what she was doing!)

I love talking to her, about her family, OUR family, many of whom I never met, or only have faint glimmers and memories of... When talking with her once ,she was upset that my Mother had a plot with my Father at another cemetery and so now in her family plot there would be an empty space where my Mother would have been lain next to her. She was distraught that 'they'll probably throw in someone I don't know and I'll have to spend the rest of days next to someone I know I won't like!" I said, if she wanted, that I'd be her eternal neighbour, to which she agreed! We're a lot alike her and I... I think because we're both Pisces (our birthdays are only 6 days apart) we are truly 2 peas in a pod. She calls me her 'favourite' and has no problem telling both her own children (my mother and Uncle) this. The thing is I really don't doubt it.

As she is getting up there, she is pretty much house bound due to decreased locomotion. Both my Mother and Uncle visit every couple of days to ensure all is well and take her out, or run her errands for her, help out with household chores and so on... not that she likes this lack of control and often vocalizes her displeasure, indicating she'd far rather it was I there with her, and on every visit asks if I'd come live with her. Sweet.

Unfortunately, she's currently in the hospital. She's been in since Oct7th. She was actually in the Emergency from 5 am Sunday the 7th to 4:30 PM on Tuesday the 9th !!! And I know she's really not doing well, because it was SHE the requested to be taken to the hospital... (and she REALLY doesn't like hospitals...) and she didn't complain about being in the Emergency for two and a half days...

I don't even know if she'll be out when we get there. For her sake I hope she is... she's far better off in her home, even if that means she'll need to have a nurse visit daily or every other day or so...

She LOVES to talk (and by 'talk' I mean bitch) about politicians. She's got her opinions and she WILL give them to you, whole heartedly, and unabashedly. It will be interesting how introducing her to Didier will play out. She's never been fond of most of the main Canadian Politicians, especially the french ones. heh... I know she'll be a sweetheart, but I also know she'll make some mention of the fact that Didier is french, to which I have already indicated to Didier he should make clear he's from France not a Québec... a distinction that means many things to many people. ;-) ...maybe she'll go easier on him!

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Overall, we're looking forward to a couple days relaxation with my parents, visiting my Grandmother and also my Aunt Eileen.

I'm truly thankful, be it on Thanksgiving, (official date or otherwise) for my family.

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Heck while we're there maybe we'll sneak in a visit to a beach (for a long walk) or a museum... and maybe some shopping...

ok definitely some shopping.

8 comments:

XUP said...

Hmmm... you live in MONTREAL and you're going shopping in the MARITIMES???

Okay.

Give your granny a big wet one for being such grande old dame. I hope I can still be so full of piss and vinegar when I'm her age.

Sean Newbury said...

Yea I know... but then I don't follow trends, I make 'em! LOL

I'm a terrible impulse shopper... and when I get home I have to steer clear of touristy shops filled with all things tartan and 'made in taiwan'... I'd buy it all. Sad indeed. I'm limiting myself to clothing and books this visit, well that and a couple freezer packs of Lobster knuckles n claws... and a couple packs of REAL DONAIR MEAT.

My Nan, yea, she's piss 'n vinegar all right. And THIS acorn did not fall from that Tree.

Maria said...

Amazing to be 94 and so hip. I want to know what she says when she meets Didier...

My great-grandma died at the ripe ole' age of 103 from a snake bite while mountain climbing in GREECE! go figure!

Sean Newbury said...

Makes you wonder how many more years your great-granny woulda had if not for the snake...

Anonymous said...

Great story, Kitty, about a great lady. Interesting, too, how she seems so at peace with the concept of the afterlife, that she's concerned about who will lie next to her in the cemetery.

When my Grandpa was about 80 and had been widowed for about three years, I asked him one day how he was doing. When he replied "All right, I guess" I said "you mean considering the alternatives?"
He said "Oh, no, I'm not afraid to die. I've lived a good life, Grandma's gone, all my golfing buddies are gone, and I just want to go over the hill with Grandma."
Totally content with that idea, without being morbid, which threw me for a slight loop, at the ripe old age of 27. The pity is that the poor old guy lived for another six years, slipped into dementia and was a formerly proud man totally robbed of his dignity.

Give Gram a big hug for me, too. I would tell you to cherish your time with her, but you obviously do.

JB said...

U.P. - There's LOTS of fun stuff to buy in the Maritimes, especially Halifax. Great town - and such a huge university population that they keep up with trends pretty darn well. But they also have things that you can't find anywhere else (...like Kitty, for instance!), which means you can be unique by shopping there and living somewhere else. Plus they have COWS, and no doubt you'll be making a trip there, even though you didn't mention it - right, M.K.?
Did you listen to the Damien Rice song yet? Heard it before?

Sean Newbury said...

COWS? what's that? LMAO!


Will we be going to COWS? Does a cow Moo? lol Hell yes, we'll be there! likely more than once!

I tried the link last night but it was unavailable.. I'll give it another whirl tonight (can't access you tube type stuff here at work)

Bruno Laliberté said...

god bless those grannies!!! i only knew my maternal grandma, but she always seemed the most sensible in the whole family. maybe it comes with the longer perspective they have on life. still, i'm sure you'll all have a great time, whatever the circumstances...
HUGZ