My Nickel’s Worth

Tomorrow is my great-grandmother is turning 90.   She is not your quintessential “older lady,” as they say.   Grandma Sammie is beautiful, spunky, and active.   She never complains about how she feels or that she can’t move as quickly as she used to when she was young and playing sports or leading her school band.  She is the funniest person I know.

Grandma keeps up with politics, loves sports (she watches every Oklahoma State sporting event, the New York Yankees, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and loves golf.), and has the best personality.   She is still very popular in her small town, and she has a sense of humor like no other.   She is so funny, in fact, that people from her town know when she goes to the salon every Friday, and they show up just to visit with her.   The hair stylist had to bring in extra chairs, so Grandma’s “friends” could have a seat.   Her friends range in age from 33 to 93, and they aren’t all women.   Everyone loves Grandma.    When a young man in the town purchased a car that has automatic pilot (he is legally blind), he immediately called my grandma to take the first drive with him!   Half the town showed up just to watch Grandma ride with Andy in his new car!   And do you know why?   Because Grandma makes life fun!   She has gone on so many vacations with us, and she sings crazy songs, tells funny jokes, and has everyone laughing.

Grandma lives in a small town, so when she drives her sporty red car to the Dollar Store, she laughs and says she is “going to the mall.”     She grew up in the Great Depression in Oklahoma, and she has told me stories of how they had to walk everywhere because no one could afford a car.   They worked hard, made their own clothes, and cooked everything from scratch.   Life was not easy, but she and her four sisters were known as the most beautiful girls in the county.   They worked hard and played competitive sports, and still found time to have fun.  

Grandma’s faith has sustained her through many life’s trials, but her sense of humor has made her unique.   I have never known anyone who loved life more or who loved to see others laugh so much.   Yes, I may call her to rant and rave about the Yankees losing to the Astros in the playoffs, and you can be sure that she is watching and will rant and rave with me, but she will also make me laugh before the conversation has ended.   Grandma has found the secret to a long, happy lifemaking other people smile.