Hey Mac Families,
I got a letter from my beloved 94 year old grandpa this week. He talked about how he's not able to do the things he used to, like riding a bike (something that he did well into his 80's), or clearing the trees he lost during Hurricane Ian. He mentioned that being on blood thinners means that he needs an unlimited supply of bandaids nearby. He thanked me for sending the New York Times crosswords, because they keep him busy during the day since he can't do much anymore without getting too tired.
Did these things make me sad? Yes.
But they also reminded me how lucky I am that he is still around to write me these letters. And it reminded me how important it is to reach out to the elderly folks in our lives, particularly during the holidays when lonely feels even more lonely.
My grandpa was the most active old guy I knew up until pretty recently. He took walks, rode his bike, made jokes, cut wood, built cabins, carried a boat on his back, puttered around doing anything and everything. He did all of these things while taking care of my grandma, who had memory issues, until she passed away two years ago.
But, seemingly overnight (although I know it couldn't have been that fast) he started slowing down. This shouldn't have been a surprise to me... I mean, he was in his 90's! But it was different than what we were all used to.
He spent less time riding bikes and more time doing the crosswords that I sent him.
He talked more about getting old and how hard things have become for him to do on his own.
He was annoyed about these things.
And I realized something very important. My grandpa NEEDS us to reach out to him more than ever, and more frequently than ever before.
He looks forward to the phone calls and letters he gets. He relies on the crosswords that I send to keep busy. He counts on the interactions he has with his kids and grandkids to stay connected to the world outside of his four walls.
So, tomorrow, I am launching a challenge with all of my cousins to start reaching out to Grandpa a couple of times a month. Write him a letter, give him a call, send him a treat. Make sure that he is getting some sort of interaction with one of us at least a couple of times a week. It takes less than 15 minutes to do any one of those things, but it means the world to him.
And we all have 15 minutes to spare.
I challenge you, too... reach out to the elderly people in your life this week. If you don't have anyone, send a card to a nursing home. Get your kids involved.
I can you from experience... you won't regret the time you spent.
Peace ☮️, Love ❤️, & Macaroni 🌼,
Christen
