Member-only story
Why Grandma Always Smiled
The secret of aging gracefully with the right attitude
I did not know why
She lost her husband long ago
She went through major health problems
All her friends and all but one of her eight siblings were dead
She lived alone and sits in her chair all day, too frail to go outside
She barely had any visitors ever
Except on Sunday when my aunt drove to her, and we visited too sometimes
Her house smelled funny, she smelled funny
I love her, but it isn’t too much fun to hang out with old people
Yet she always smiled
She patted cheeks and squeezed hands
She sat near the picture window her husband built for her
Always in a good mood
One day I asked my mom ‘Why does Grandma smile so much?’
‘Ask her’ she replied
So I did, and her answer forever changed how I see the old
‘Grandma, Grandpa is gone, and you are alone mostly. Aren’t you sad?’
‘Oh heaven’s no!’ she says, ‘Not at all!’
