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Half-birthdays: Finding Joy in Small Things
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Comments (4)My grandmother called to let me know that we were going to start celebrating her half-birthday.
“At my age...”
I finished her sentence, “You want even more attention? Isn’t being 92 enough? Now you want to be noted for being 92-and-a-half?”
“Well, yes. I guess I do.”
“Ok, I’m not going to argue with a 92-and-a-half-year-old.”
“Good, what time is my half-birthday dinner?”
She has a point. In previous postings I have written a few “how-to” pieces and also discussed the issue of taking care of one’s self when working as a professional or family caregiver. This conversation reminded me of two things: how often we forget to take care of ourselves and that I have learned quite a few lesson on “how-to” live a life from this woman. Her cardinal rule has always been, “just try to be a good person.” The unsaid part of that statement speaks to the difficulty in this seemingly easy task. Creating a life wherein you try to keep your moral compass pointing in the right direction and not make anyone else’s life more difficult is actually quite hard.
Growing up in the Depression, my grandmother learned about the harshness of reality firsthand and up close. I’m fairly certain that being a good person in those days was tough. My grandmother accomplished a lot in her life; she made it up to the rank of captain in the Women’s Army Air Corp. She traveled to Kenya on safari in her sixties along with assorted siblings, and tells stories of meeting American servicemen who were “so homesick they actually sat around playing cards with old people like us!”
Perhaps most impressively of all she celebrates half-birthdays even though her mobility has become limited over the past few months due to age and health issues. And celebration in the face of the unknown is another lesson. While her occasional bouts of forgetfulness or explanations of aches or pains are met with a tongue-in-cheek admonishment, “don’t get old,” I think hers is a firm grip on what’s important in this world. The statement might sound negative, but what she is really pointing out is that it’s important to keep your spirit young. So in the spirit of the “how-to” I suggest celebrating your half-birthday. Don’t waste time—unless it is trying to figure out what to wear to your half-birthday dinner.
Posted in: Caregiving, Dealing with Grief & Guilt, General, Inspirational Memoirs
I like the idea of celebrating half-birthdays. I plan on doing it myself. Even though I am only 64. More parties never hurt anyone.
Sounds like the lady knows how to see the lighter side of things. That’s better than anything a doctor will give you.
i’d celebrate more than twice a year if I were 92! i’d deserve it and so does your grandmother. it would be so cool if her grandchildren each planned dinner (maybe 3x) throughout the year for her. i guarantee it would make her so happy and will bring joy to everyone - especially her.
We could all learn something from your Grandmother. Anyone who has made it to 92 1/2 has wisdom to share.