During my visit to my Grandparents down in Virginia a few weeks ago, I was once again given an important lesson by my Grandmother, who proved again two very important things: 1)She's not too old to give a life lesson, and 2)I'm not too old to receive one. I happened to be in the kitchen, when my mother and cousin came in the room looking for a piece of paper, and pen. They saw me and asked how old I was..I told them, and then they exclaimed that my Grandmother was saying a different number than what I was saying, and they wanted to show her the math to prove her wrong. While they were looking, I went in my Grandmother's room and asked her how old she thinks I am..She said the correct number. My mother and cousin did not hear her say the correct answer to me, and were hellbent on showing her the math to something she already correctly stated..They were flustered thinking that the woman was losing it, and for a second I was thinking that also, until she winked at me with a smile. I knew right then that she was having fun with my mother and cousin, and knew exactly how old I was, but even though she was slower moving, and couldn't do as many physical things as she used to, her mind was sharp, and she was enjoying creating chaos, and making everyone except me think that she was forgetful, and losing her faculties. I laughed with her, and left the room, enjoying the chaos myself, as I could hear her arguing with my mother and cousin, who now had a piece of paper for proof of my age. I found it highly amusing that this woman who raised me, still loved to have whatever fun tricking and poking family members any way she could to keep folks on their toes. Nothing more endearing than an 87 year old woman creating mischief.
During the drive home, I thought about that moment, and understood an important lesson that was given me by my Grandmother..Grow older, but have fun, and don't grow old. Too many times we take life so seriously, and can't get out of our own way as we get older, because we forgot what it was like to play. Playing doesn't have to be on a playground, or even physically running and jumping. Playing is understanding that life, as serious as it is, needs moments of relief when silliness, and laughter are needed to break up moments that are heavy, and depressive. Live long enough, and there will be plenty of tears, disappointments, and times where life isn't fun. And as you get older, you are expected to be a serious example to look to, and some of that is true...But there is also the part in life where even as a mature adult, the moment may require laughter, mild chaos of loving trickery, and playfulness, to shake things up, and keep ones mind fresh, and ideas youthful. That is what is needed to make smiles happen, and to remind us that life is to be lived before it's over.
My Grandmother understands this, and continues to joke, and create confusion, just because she can, and enjoys seeing folks scramble a little. The wink told me everything I needed to know and more. Life is fun. That is basically what she was telling me, and has always told me from the time I was a little boy. Growing older is a privilege. You should conduct yourself as an adult, with adult sensibilities, but never ever lose the playfulness that you can convey to others where you can make someone smile, either through a joke, or loving ribbing. This doesn't mean acting like an idiot. Some people get this idea confused with acting like a 20 year old when they are 50. That is not it at all. Having fun with adult sensibilities means still having dignity, respect for others, and abandoning foolish things for clever things. Not running amok like an idiot, still reaching back for youth, but accepting your maturity, and displaying that aspect 3 Dimensionally.
If you can maintain a certain sense of wonder, and playfulness, then the world and all that's in it will never be boring to you. I can't stand to hear someone say that they are bored nowadays with all of the technology available at their disposal..You can drive somewhere, walk somewhere, play some silly video game on your phone, call someone, or even watch TV from almost anywhere you want. Think of how people in 1900 lived. Think you are bored now??? The wonders of the world are all around, and laughter is all around wherever you choose to make it. As we grow older, and life becomes more serious, it is even more important to keep a sense of humor, and playfulness, because nothing is guaranteed. You could easily walk out of your house, and never come back because of something tragic. I personally don't know how people would remember me if that happened to me tomorrow, but I certainly want some of the people to remember me with a smile, and remember incidences where laughter was shared.
I think that my grandmother was trying to do that very thing. Create a memory where we can look back in the future like I did when I was driving, and smile. She had so much fun creating that chaos that I couldn't help but laugh out loud as I write this. Live life full of love and laughter, and create a little healthy mischief, is what she was saying with that wink and smile to me. And just when I reach a point in life where I think I've got a little wisdom, I realize just how much more there is to get...Lesson learned..Once again from my Grandmother.
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