Change

The inevitable did indeed happen. It took nearly two weeks, but infection did ensue, but low and behold Grandpa did have the smarts to call his doctor. He was admitted into the ER on Friday night, and on an IV drip to kill the infection that erupted after the last wound from a fall getting the morning paper. My fear of asking a 93 year old man to clean a wound that requires scrubbing, dressing changes, and first-aid skills happened.

What’s the outcome? Well he’s finally giving assisted living a shot, after a few talks with the physician, some prompting from my father (for whom I’m extremely proud of by the way), and a bit of encouragement from a few dear friends.

What’s the big deal of going into assisted living? Well for some elders it’s simple. Avoidance is now disabled, change from what you’ve known can no longer be denied.

I’ve learned four things recently: aging is a process, acceptance of that process is difficult, family is a virtue and comes in many forms, and accepting change never gets easier.

Imagine yourself 93 years young, losing your partner for whom you’ve been attached to for over 60 years, and one day life as you know it changes. Walking becomes difficult, getting the morning paper…Not so easy….Balance, well that’s a memory…and a memory, well that’s something else you’re feeling disappear. Life as you have ‘known’ it simply becomes unfamiliar. Losing familiarity is one of the scariest things we face as we get older.

Christmas will become a new tradition this year, where instead of picking up the lone Patriarch of the family and the one and only surviving Grandparent for the usual 2 hour meal and annual television viewing of ELF…It will consist of a visit and dinner from the retirement village.

Change can hurt sometimes, it’s uncomfortable, it’s anxious, and it’s real. The reality is life does not stop for us to get ‘comfortable’ with the impending changes that may erupt.

Life is short, so eat, pray, and simple: Love.