Gracie Enters Her State of Birth

Gracie often heads to Pennsylvania to replenish her soul.  A place with tree-covered hills which burst into to a vast expanse of sassafras yellow and maple scarlet in the fall.   She also loves the great variety of evergreens there -  Scotch pine, Norway spruce and blue spruce which were shaped like giant bee-hives in her Grandparents yard.  The Tree-of-Heaven, Ailanthus, an invasive, was brought there in 1784 and it is also called the Tree-of-Hell.  Perhaps this proves that perspective is everything.

Her first stop is to visit her daughter.  Gracie is delighted to see her and grateful for a loving reception and delicious dinner.  Gracie wants to buy a few things for the trip, most importantly books and music. She picks out two books:  The Art of War by Sun Tzu and The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer.  Her choices illustrate Gracie's broad range of interests.  As they near the cash register, her daughter says:  “You are homeless and unemployed, Mother, I’ll buy the books for you.” Gracie protests, but she is outnumbered by the cashier and her daughter’s beau.  She thinks to herself “Be gracious.” and then gives an enthusiastic “Thank you.” This scene is repeated at the CD store and at lunch.  “Wow!” thinks Gracie, "This is fun!”  She's deeply touched by the offer of a home, should things go awry on the road, but Gracie likes her independence.  A conversation with another of her children sheds light on Gracie’s feelings.  “Mom, you are so much more fun to visit than to live with.” said one of her sons.   She laughs, but when she replies “I feel the same way about you,” the son’s face drops in shocked surprise.

Within the same city, Gracie has a fine example of what she wants to be like when she grows up in her sensible 93-year-old second cousin on her father's side.  She lives a few miles from Gracie’s child, and the cousin’s sister, aunts, and other relatives rest in the graveyard where Gracie walks when visiting her daughter.

This second cousin lives independently and allows her children to visit and assess her ability to walk up and down the poorly lit, steep, wooden basement steps.  She still drives her car though not at night or on major highways; she does her own shopping and cooks tasty food similar to what Gracie used to eat at her Grandmother’s.  She likes crossword puzzles, is an avid reader  with an interest in religious material,  including, the Holy Bible, The Book of Mormon, the Methodist hymnbook and the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer.  She is bright, witty and a joy to be around.  No wonder Gracie feels she is a woman to emulate. 

It’s time to head out of town. Gracie cannot depart without documenting her stay by adding to the “animal photo collection.”  Gracie likes to have her picture taken with statues of animals or live ones.  Her children do not seem appreciate her hobby as she has been told that there is a “senility spreadsheet” where these pictures are being logged. If this is senility, by gum, it’s fun! 

Copyright © 201 Martina Sabo