Our GG is eighty eight years old. GG stands for great grandmother and is the absolute best name as the great grandchild can say GG at an early age and it makes our great grandmothers beam. I actually thought GG was already eighty nine years old. GG is really easy going about everything. That is why I believe she would be proud that I have told you her age.
For that matter, GG is always proud of everything anyone in the family accomplishes. She is the first to compliment and the last to criticize. GG was president of the PTA at her children’s school and active in volunteer organizations, in addition to working in her husband’s dental office. GG is not a wall flower. She will walk up to strangers and talk, most often to compliment them about something. GG is considerate and caring, but does not cross the line to intrude. I hear her say, I think I have said enough so let’s change the subject. GG is appreciative of attention but never demands or uses guilt.
At nearly eighty nine years old, GG lives alone, plays games with friends, is always ready to help us, goes to the casino to gamble (remember we live in Florida), and spends as much time with us as we extend ourselves to her. We love spending time with her as she is funny and fun to be with, interested in politics and public affairs, and up on the latest news. GG wants to go up north next month by airplane alone one way so she can see her four great grandchildren who live up there and celebrate her granddaughter’s thirty fifth birthday and a grandson’s fifth birthday.
GG is my mother-in-law. Yes, I am very lucky. I am also appreciative that I have her as a mother in my life.
GG is generous within her means. She says she wants to see the enjoyment that her gift brings during her life, rather than after her death. For my sixty fifth birthday, GG wanted to give me a special gift. There was really nothing that came to mind. She was insistent. My husband is into gadgets galore and is adept at all. I am mechanically challenged. But, I thought of an Ipad. GG got me the top of the line, full of 3G and every option Ipad. For the first three months, I did not carry it with me, but thought, a few times a day, how nice it would have been if I could have immediately found the answer to a question or check my email from anywhere I was when I had a break during the day. Now, the Ipad is with me always.
At a family dinner, we were enjoying a light conversation about the perfect birthday gift, money no option, in this electronic age, for a three year old, as our great nephew was about to be three. I said that all of our grandchildren, down to the sixteen month old love an Ipad the best. The best adult toy is also the best child toy. We debated the child versions on the market. GG decided that she wanted to buy him a simple version Ipad for his third birthday.
Of course, it was now impossible to get him to put the Ipad down for a minute. GG commented out loud that if a three year old could be so proficient at an Ipad, perhaps she, at eighty eight years old, could use an Ipad.
We went to Apple to get an Ipad for GG. After we showed her the basics and left, GG spent four hours playing on the Ipad. Within just a few weeks, GG expanded her use to playing Words with Friends with me, to playing bridge, hitting slot machines of course, reading best sellers, watching movies or something on computer TV, sending and receiving emails, viewing videos and pictures of grandchildren and great grandchildren, and surfing the net for articles, jokes, posts, news, etc. she finds interesting to share with family and friends.
Every day it seems, GG is trying something new and different on the Ipad. Yes, we do speak to her often, now more times each day, as she has questions or wants to share her Ipad skill. Today, we discussed how she must be expanding her mind, exactly what we are supposed to do to extend our quality of life as we age. She said she agreed as she continued to play on the Ipad as we spoke. I said there must not be too many eighty nine year olds who have an Ipad. That is when she reminded me she is still eighty eight years old. I said I am going to write an article for AARP Magazine about her and her Ipad. I must admit that I was viewing “[o]ur 21 Sexiest Grownup Men” in the June/July 2012 AARP Magazine while I was talking to her. She said, good, then I will be a star.
GG, you are a star. You are the mother-in-law I hope to be when our son marries. You will be with me always.
Joy,
Mema