Grandma Draper

My cute Grandma Draper turned 93 on August 4th. Can you believe it? She has been in really good health up until the last few years and has been able to stay in her home. My mom and aunt and uncle go out to her house everyday to make sure she eats and takes her pills, but my parents have been telling me lately that my grandma has been going down hill. She can't see or hear very well, she's been sleeping a lot more, and she's struggles with dementia. A few years ago I would go out and see her every Tuesday with my mom, but it became too hard for me and for my grandma because of our kids, so I haven't seen her for a few years. I decided to take our kids out to see Grandma Draper and wish her a happy birthday. 

Even though she's 93, my grandma is still pretty witty. When I asked her what she did for her birthday she told me she got plastered! So funny! Then a few minutes later when I asked her something about being plastered, she looked at me and said, "did I say that?"

 I told my Grandma I wanted to take a selfie and she looked at herself in the photo and said, "Who's that old lady?"

 I think going out to my Grandma Draper's house made me sentimental. I remember growing up I loved when I was off track because that meant I got to have a sleepover at my Grandma and Grandpa Draper's house. As soon as we would get there she would take us to the store and we could pick out whatever cereal we wanted for breakfast the next morning. Then she would take us to the dollar store and we could pick out any toy. She always had coloring books and crayons at her house that I loved to color in. I would always put on a show for her in her living room while "Foot Loose" would play on her record player.

When my Grandpa Draper was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease she refused to put him in a rest home and insisted she could take care of him... and she did until he died peacefully in his home. I've always admired her for that decision. My Grandma Draper is one of the strongest people I know... and she's probably the funniest 93 year old grandma out there.

I'm so glad I got to go out to her house and see her because my grandma ended up needing to go to a rest home where she could get 24 hour care. It's hard to see her go into a rest home because she doesn't like it, but it's better for her to have round the clock care. I love my Grandma Draper!