A couple of days ago during a spontaneous dinner conversation about familial love and responsibility, my seven year old grandson reassured his parents not to worry, “Grandma Cherry will take care of you when you get old.” I am Grandma Cherry. I am glad he feels I am up to the task. His comment also gives insight into my personality strengths and weaknesses and how I am viewed by others. Seeking clarity, I asked him, “What age is a person when they are old?” “Oh,” pondered he, “about 90.”
“In that case,” I said, “I will be about 117 when your daddy gets old (in actual fact, I will be 109). Do you think I will be able to take care of him?”
In a few more days, I will turn – – another year older. I have grandchildren ages 2,4,7 and 9. I have grown children ages 21, 23, and 29 for the ninth time. I chase my grandchildren, pick them up, swing the younger ones into the air and walk four miles every day I get the chance. I color my hair with my DIL and jam with my rock band offspring whenever I am welcome – but, I am no spring chicken. So last night it came as a mild surprise once again when the same grandson said, “Grandma Cherry,” you’re not old.
“Why do you think I am not old?” I asked. “Because you don’t have wrinkles,” he replied. This, in the face of the fact that he is often fascinated by my moles and age spots.
Like a true baby-boomer, I don’t always act my age, nor do I want to grow old. There are still things to do, people to see, places to go. I long to travel, but travel costs money. To earn money requires time; time that would otherwise be used on those same people to see and places to go. In addition to writing online, I make my daily bread at the delightful task of teaching piano lessons to six students and tutoring three others. Recently, I added a seasonal job at our local Colorado National Monument – a huge tourist attraction.
While congratulating me on such a inspiring job, my good friend asked, “Aren’t there other National Parks you could visit and support yourself at the same time by working there?”
Yes. What a great idea. There are 397 National Parks. If I chose the best in each of the 50 states and worked a different one each summer season – – I don’t have that many summers left. Even with my youthfulness, I am getting old. I have a birthday next week.
