Tuesday, January 11:
Since I got home from Christmas break, I’ve spoken with my grandmother nearly every day- when I walk to work, on the walk home from work, on the weekends… Over the holiday, my grandfather passed away from a heart attack and having spent the past (I’m not even sure how many) years focused on being a wife, mother and grandmother- cooking, cleaning, taking care of bills with him, the minutiae of each day- I can’t even imagine what it feels like to suddenly have your husband pass away and your children and grandchildren grow up. She’s built her life around her life with him and now, at 79, she’s left to figure out how to fill the space in her day. I hope my calls can help with that, even in a small way.
One thing that she’s said over and over, during the course of our calls, is that in the 40 plus years of their marriage, they never took a real trip, they never went off on an adventure together…
So as I call her each morning, each night, each weekend, I can’t help but take this as a lesson for myself and my life.
Too soon, you’re too old and it’s too late. So do it now.
Whether that’s an adventure at work or in my personal life, it matters that I get to experience it, that I push for that chance now.
I come from a working middle class family; from parents that are so innately focused on being incredible parents (and they are) and making sure that my brother and I had what we wanted or what we needed, that they sacrificed a lot of their own adventures and put a lot of their personal goals on hold.
I love them so much and appreciate exactly what that means to have parents and a grandmother willing to do that.
But for me, now, at 25, I just keep thinking, for what it’s worth…
Too soon, you’re too old and it’s too late. So do it now.
-Amanda, 25, US
