Immortality is the topic of the moment, with a new survey released August, 2013. This Grandma paid no attention to the articles at the beginning of the month, then noted more titles, then started reading about the study and results. I almost felt worn down. This is a topic this Boomer Grandma had not thought about and, being “forever young,” is not ready to consider as a future option.
I read the August 9, 2013, Sun-Sentinel article, “Do We Fear Immortality,” by William Saltan, long after it appeared in print. It was in a pile of articles that I keep to read sometime, just not now. I found it in the pile after Grandpa pointed out a Jimmy Fallon joke reprinted in the Sun-Sentinel, August 21, 2013:
This is pretty surprising to me, actually: They just did this study that found that if given a choice most Americans would not want to live to 120. Except for that one group—people who are 119.
I think Jimmy Fallon got it right. To me, the optimistic outlook on life, appreciating the present, and wanting to be there to see and participate in the next miraculous life passage event is significant. It may not be science fiction for us Boomer grandmas to dream about being present at family events via hologram!
With a caveat.
GG (great-grandmother), my mother, always said, “if you do not have your health, you do not have anything.” Once you live long enough, I think life lessons help you understand how true that it. However, with amazing medical advances, who knows what is around the corner, much less what will be when we Boomer grandmas are above 80 and “old old.”
According to my wise mother-in-law, not me, this Grandma is “young old.” Being young, I do not have to address the issue of immortality now.
Wait.
Family rituals and traditions are what we remember from our childhood. Of course, the more family rituals and traditions that we grandmas help to create for or participate in with grandchildren, the more we will remain in the memories of our grandchildren for them to share with their grandchildren. I am a busy Grandma working hard right now to make the memories happen.
Immortality. I have it now. Such
Joy,
Mema
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