Maggie Monday: Not Dead Yet

My grandmother has been dying since I went off to college, some 26 years ago. Not in the imminent sense: she has no grave illnesses, just the minor annoyances of old age: she's losing her sight, her energy, her balance, and is, reportedly, "drying out."

When I went off to college, she told me, "Ma might not be around to see you graduate." She was a spry 62 back then.

After I graduated and took my first job in New York City in 1989, I only had two days off at Christmas. As a way of getting me to take more time off in December, she said, "Ma might not be around next Christmas." (She continues to make this report in late December.)

When I was taking a million years to write my dissertation, she'd encourage me by threatening not to live to see me graduate with my Ph.D.

Last year when I called to wish her a happy 88th birthday, she thanked me and declared, "That's enough."

If it looks like she's still going to be with us next March, and at this point she's brainwashed me into thinking she might die someday, I'd like to shower her with birthday cards, 89 of them to be exact.

Who's in?

And speaking of birthdays, happy birthday to my Aunt Mikki, who has yet to threaten to die on me even though she alleges to be past 62.

Although I've enjoyed writing these little stories about my grandmother, I will return to posting about my crafting life on Mondays in the new year. Thanks for your appreciation of my grandmother and the complexities she has added to my character.