Susnot

Aging Gracefully

This morning as I prepared to come into work I came across an interview on the CBS morning show with Fabio.

Yes Fabio, the blonde, muscled man who couldn't speak English very well and always sounded like he had taken too many steroids.

He's not blonde anymore and he has a funny commercial - I forget for what company - but he didn't sound like a dumb dumb so much as a European dude who had an appreciation for his life and life as a whole. I have to admit, I was impressed.

Of course this doesn't mean that I am in love with him for it.

But he was talking about life and how people in hollywood take themselves too seriously and worry too much about not aging and staying young looking. That that's just a superficial thing and that there is greater beauty in aging gracefully.

And I have to say. I agree wholeheartedly about that.

I am fortunate to have some pretty nice examples in my own family of aging gracefully. My Grandmothers were both two of the most beautiful women to me - not just because of their appearence but because of how wise they were and I wish that I had spent more time with my paternal Grandmother... I did spend time, but I just wish I spent more. I have one memory for each of my Grandmothers.... heh.

For my Dad's Mom, my favorite memory of her was when I was probably like... five.. or six... and we were in PA at our old house. And all we were doing was pushing this little plastic plane back and forth to each other across the kitchen table. It was fun. But to me it was especially fun because of the joy she had on her face. She had the most brilliant happy smile on her face and I just remember that as one of my happiest moments becuase it was one that only she and I shared and it was the most nominal type of activity - but we were so excited and happy to be there together... at the kitchen table. Heh.

For my Mom's Mom, my favorite memory - well there are a lot actually. Just because I got to spend so much time with her as I grew up. But one of the last ones was of when she was in the hospital going for an x-ray and I looked at her in her wheelchair looking so regal in her hospital gown and sweater heh, and I said to her in Taiwanese, "Grandma you are still so pretty." And she looked at me as though I was some kind of fool and smiled at me and said "Well of course I am." As if that could ever be a question in anyone's mind. I found that remarkable because even as cancer sucked her body up, her spirit was as strong as ever. And I marveled at the wisdom and sense of joy she had even in that moment.

If I am fortunate like my Grandmothers to have lived a good life, I will be very grateful.

Not that I'm not already grateful.

posted by Susnot @ 10:25 AM