When Family Gets Old
The title is a little deceiving. "When Family Gets Old" is not a harp of being tired of family and their never ending commentary or expectations for your life, but facing the fact that "one's Family Is CHRONOLOGICALLY Getting OLD!"
My Grandmother passed last year at the age of 103. She had almost a dozen children in her lifetime, therefore I am one of over 150 grand, great-grand, great-great grandchildren. My family is HUGE.
Two weekends ago, my young son (6 years old) and I spent a week with my father and my oldest surviving uncle (Uncle Frank - 84). My father is 73 and he is the youngest son. I have already lost two uncles and this time when I went back for my annual family reunion everyone looked very age-ed. I relate this to being the first family reunion since Grandma passed.
In reality I am amazed at my Uncles and my dad. Both my father and my Uncle Frank work 12 hours days, outside, doing physical labor. They both are in incredible shape. My Uncle Frank would pass for 65 and my father (if he had his jet black hair color back) would easily pass for 50!
I was thankful my young son was bale to work side by side with them for a week. It was a great experience for him. One he will always remember. I am thankful he has gotten to know them.
But, I am saddened they are getting old. Granted, if they live into their hundreds as Grandpa and Grandma did (and even their brother and sisters lived into their 100's), there are anywhere from 16 to 27 years respectively, but still, by the traditional American Standards they are getting old.
One thing I did really ponder quite alot while I was with them. How did 6 of the brothers and sisters raise from 6 to 10 kids EACH and only the father worked and the mother stayed at home? What an accomplishment! Can we even do that anymore in America?
posted by Social Commentator @ 3:42 PM
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