We have all heard the saying that 'Today is a Gift, that's why they call it the Present'. I really got to have a good, long, hard look at these words this weekend. Please let me explain.
My Grandparents are 85 years old. They have always been very active and relatively healthy. My Grandpa was walking up to 8 miles/day until just recently and still keeps a PHENOMINAL garden in the spring and summer. My Grandmother also, until recently, continued to volunteer about 3 hours a day and swam in her pool seasonally. At this point in their lives Grandpa is having some heart problems and Grandma has developed Alzheimer's. I know this is to be expected because as Grandma just learned AGAIN, "WE'RE 85! When did that happen?" This is a shock she learns this each day plus she learns each day that her parents are no longer living, some of her other relatives and friends are gone as well, and that they are no longer living in their home, but an apartment attached to my Aunt and Uncle's house, among other Daily Newsflashes.
So, I drove the short distance from Batesville, Arkansas to Jonesboro, Arkansas and I spent the weekend with my Grands. They have an aide during the week, and we are trying to take turns 'enjoying our Grandparents company' on the weekends so as to give my Aunt and Uncle a much needed and deserved break.
I tell this to explain that my Mother is indeed having a TERRIBLE time with the eventuality of this situation. It's not that I blame her for this or am I trying to minimize the situation. I try to calm her down and help her to be realistic, but I must admit this probably isn't my strongest quality. This weekend my son, Tyler, joined me at my Grands and I have to say he really just enjoyed himself. THAT was the grandest present we could have given them. It wasn't a weekend spent mourning over the fact that this is a difficult situation, but it was a weekend spent thoroughly enjoying the people we love and reminiscing about the great times we had, and the friends we have enjoyed over the years. It was a weekend of watching Tyler soak in all their stories and laugh. It was a weekend of watching them soak in his youthful attention and admiration. This helped me explain to Mother on the way home: Just go and enjoy them! Quit being so consumed with this situation; Just go enjoy the present!
No matter where you are in your life, when Real Estate is on your agenda, please feel free to give me a call and I'll do my best to make this transaction your smoothest ever!
Sincerely,
