Over the River...

...to Grandma's House we go. MY Grandma. Brian heads to Georgia in 2 days, and we made a point of driving to Kankakee to visit Great-Grandma before he leaves.


Some things never change. Brian was asleep 15 minutes into the ride.


Hugs, hugs, aren't you tired of my photographing hugs?! Brian sure is. He'll thank me some day, I just know it.


We got down to chicken dinner, and afterward Brian helped Grandma with the toothpick container. It's one of those shaped like a bird that leans over. Grandma struggled with it, telling him "that bird is supposed to give it to you, but he doesn't."


My grandmother is a pistol. She's 88 years old, and until 2 years ago, worked full time in the housekeeping department of a hospital in Kankakee. She's became ill after a routine medical test went awry, and has been trying to recover ever since. She's physically frail, but mentally sharp as a tack.

She complained about her baggy pants, and then teased Brian about his, "we both have the same pants!"

After dinner we went out into the garden to take a few pix.




When the photo shoot was over, Grandma asked Brian for a hand out of the glider swing. He started to pull her up, but couldn't just yank her up by her arms. My Aunt Carol coached him: "pull on the back of her pants." "What?" he said, "Really?" Yep, that's what she said.

A bit hesisitant to give his Great Grandmother a giant wedgie, he gently lifted her out of the chair, leaving them both laughing when she was back on her feet.


I love, love, love this picture. My Grandma is a bit grouchy about this growing-old stuff; she thinks it's for the birds, thank you very much. I was unsure if she'd let me take a photo her hand with Brian's, but she was happy to oblige: Brian's hands were warmer than hers, she said.


I'm so happy we got this trip in. We had a great time, and hit the road for home just at 7:00—1/2 hour past Grandma's bedtime. She's a wild one.