My grandfather is in his 90's. He won't last forever. He is at that stage in life where if I have something to tell him, it's best to spit it out. Once over 90, every micro-sleep could be the final one.
A few things have been plaguing me, so I decided to have a tough conversation last weekend.
My grandfather had told us repeatedly for 30 years not to put too many items upstairs as the floor might collapse. He repeated this again to me again a week ago. Curiosity finally got the better of me. I asked, was the workmanship so shoddy that I may fall through the ceiling at any time?
No he said. He just didn't want too many books upstairs.
Glad I waited to ask that one.
I have often been told that I was the naughty baby and that my sister was the good one. I decided to ask about my sister as a youngster, to see if there was any correlation between her behaviour and CupCake's.
I was told a startling truth. My sister was good during the night. When she was asleep! During the day, and I quote; 'She was a pest and always wanted me to to read her stories'. Clearly I must have asked to be read Cinderella 24 hours a day to qualify as a full-time irritant.
I've been gathering advice from my Grandfather over the past few years. The elderly have a lot to share. This week's pearl of wisdom was:
'When you see a white label on a scotch bottle, you know it's rubbish'.
Previous quotes have included:
On insomnia: 'Have whisky at 3am'.
On voting: 'Write shit on you and put your ballot paper in the box'.
On shopping: 'Take 25 cents, go to the shop and buy yourself a coke'.
On restaurants: 'I only go because you pay, otherwise they are a waste of money'.
On Jackie Collins: 'I never knew a woman could write eff, eff, eff! She is very filthy'.
I feel I have really learnt something from him over the past 12 years.
Regardless, I have decided that when I die, I will shout out one of the following famous last words (whilst Bon Jovi's 'Blaze of Glory' is playing in the background). They are almost as good as my Grandfather's quotes.
Either that wallpaper goes, or I do.
~~ Oscar Wilde, writer, d. November 30, 1900
~~ Oscar Wilde, writer, d. November 30, 1900
Get my swan costume ready.
~~ Anna Pavlova, ballerina, d. 1931
~~ Anna Pavlova, ballerina, d. 1931
I should never have switched from Scotch to Martinis.
~~ Humphrey Bogart, actor, d. January 14, 1957
~~ Humphrey Bogart, actor, d. January 14, 1957
While I do love Mr Bogart's quote..... no one could ever compare to Grandfather Sponge Cake's quotes!! I know exactly what you mean about every moment may be his last too. My dad has been very sick and I am at that stage where I have to accept that he might die. Last time I saw him I found him unconscious and had to call the ambulance for him. While he lives in a nursing home and is being cared for and monitored you never know which visit will be the last. It’s a roller coaster of emotions but at the same time does bring to the forefront the importance of great conversations which I love.
ReplyDeleteI hope he is around for a lot longer Katiegirl and that you get to have all of the conversations you need with him. xxx
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