A Day With Grandma

Today I took my grandma to the retirement village in Wilmington, Ohio, where she will soon be moving from her home in Arkansas. We toured the facility, took measurements of her new home, explored color options, and had lunch in the dining room.

It felt like I was the perfect person to do this, since I've just moved from Ohio to California and have a fresh understanding of how overwhelming moving can be. There is so much to think about and remember that it is hard to keep everything clear and straight in your mind. Especially when you are trying to organize your life in two different places -- when there is stuff to do here but also stuff to do there. And, in her case, 20 years worth of living in Arkansas to organize.

Serving my grandma feels easy and natural. We have always had a special relationship, which was deepened when I lived with her for a year in my early 20s. I inherited her creativity in the arts, affection for Spain, independent spirit, and desire to love and serve our partners well.

Sometimes I think "to serve" means it has to be hard, or feel unnatural. But just because it was easy for me to visit her new home with her, doesn't mean it wasn't deeply appreciated. I know she will leave for home in Arkansas on Wednesday feeling better about where home in Ohio will be next month.