This past weekend, my family got together for our annual barbecue in honor of my grandmother, Nina, who will be 87 this year--wow, what a milestone. I can't believe how much she has endured in over eight decades on earth. When she was young, she raised a family of three in a very poor section of rural Russia, immigrated to Canada in '59, married twice, lost two husbands, worked in the kitchen at Baycrest Hospital for over two decades, and has outlived most of her peers and relatives. Truth be told, she looks better than ever--and she's thriving. I'm constantly amazed by her willingness to shop and cook for herself daily, and she continues to keep her social life intact by meeting friends for coffee a few times a week at the mall. Sometimes, she indulges in a glass of beer, which I find totally endearing and so cool..and that's my BUBA (meaning, doll) as I affectionately call her.
When I was a young girl, my Buba would always babysit for me and my brother when my parents went on vacation. She always let me stay up late with her to watch 'The Love Boat' and 'Fantasy Island'. Ultimately, I think she was happiest when I kept her company-- she always laughed at my jokes because I had an answer for everything. To this day, she tells me stories of what I'd say as a youngster and has pretty good recall of the exact words I used. It's quite funny.
She is my only surviving grandparent, and I must say, she's one in a million. I really want her to stick around long enough to enjoy a great grandchild and I so badly want to be the one to provide her with that joy.
I don't know anyone in my social circles who would say they've enjoyed vacationing with their grandparents, but I've been to Florida with my Buba about 5 times in the last 8 years. In a word, humbling. When your family members are around you each day for an extended period, you have no choice but to see their quirks, mannerisms, and funny routines. Over the years, my eyes have opened wider and I've grown more tolerant, patient and understanding of my grandmother. I know how lucky I am to have her around.
Which brings me to the reason I'm writing this post--if I could have my way, it would be to thrive well into my 80's and 90's, and to always maintain a positive outlook on life. I want to continue to work on a few hobbies, interact with friends and always have laughter. I want to accessorise and be color-coordinated and have my wits about me. I want to stay physically active and do my very best to stay on top of changing trends. I want to emulate my sweet grandmother in many ways--she still puts on make-up each day, she paints at her social club, she insists on making her own delicious and healthy dinners, she's adamant about living alone to this day and she loves to watch her favorite reality television programs.
More often than not, she's a lovely soul with a gentle approach to life. But like all women, she gets cranky, she tends to worry and stress out unnecessarily, she's a bit of a gossip girl and she hates to feel uncomfortable. But through it all, she's a fighter and she's shown us many times over, that she's a survivor. I adore her with all of my heart.
So, my readers: is there a person you can think of that you'd like to emulate as you get older? Someone you revere and worship because they have thrived throughout the years? My suggestion is to keep him or her in your sights and hold them forever in your heart. Give them the attention, love and respect they deserve--because someday, kid, THAT WILL BE YOU. Be someone worth emulating. It'll do your body, mind and spirit a world of good.
