chronicles of a non-desperate housewife: The last of the GREATS

Last week we made our yearly trip to Iowa to visit Grandma Mary on her little farm outside of Lakeview, IA. Jarod and I have been visiting his grandmother as regularly as we can for the last 14 years, but this was our first visit to her home since both of my grandmothers have passed away. She is our children's last living great grandparent.

The weight of the trip was a beautiful thing for me as I watched Grandma search for kittens with the children and cook up farm fresh meals like a storm for our group of 13 on Saturday night. We visited on a festival weekend where we experienced everything from a small town talent show to a nighttime boat parade. And as we made the 3 mile drives from town around the lake back to the farm we listened to her stories. She was raised on this same property and has loved this land for eight decades. As she shared her stories of houses being built, businesses closing, families transforming, farms dividing, and city limits expanding I couldn't help but think, “This is the best America has to offer. My children are connected to and the international students are experiencing the most beautiful and rooted ideals America has.”

Grandma Mary still puts in longer days than most Americans my age would ever be able to manage. She came from the generation that built their own homes, grew their own food, sewed their own clothes, educated themselves, and in their free time learned how to dance skillfully and play card games that required serious math skills. They "tinkered" - they created. Evolutionarily speaking they are pre-consumer.

Yesterday a friend of ours admitted that he had tried drastic medical measures because his shoulder was so sore from playing video games. Seriously.

My 8 year old has eaten out more in his 8 years than Grandma has in her 80. I'd bet on that.

Lucy has spent more time in her five little year of life painting her nails and taking self-pics than grandma has spent time imagining such frivolous stupidity.

Every international student I meet thinks that they see the heart of America when they visit LA and NYC. 4 have visited Grandma Mary in Iowa. They have seen the true heart of America.

As Jarod and his brother stayed up late one evening talking “shop” with grandma I was amazed at her ability to not only to keep up with but lead conversations on crops, organics, pesticides, and mechanics with these two very technically minded young men... one of whom works in a CO-OP.

With the amazing health she is in, I wouldn't be surprised if she is around for another dozen years or so... shoveling her own paths through Iowa winters. And if she is - I would HANDS DOWN advise our kids to spend 4 years living with her over attending ANY university.

Now – to be completely honest they would probably go crazy from all the conspiracy theory jargon compounded by the “save it ANYWAY – no matter what” reusing/hording mentality. But in the apathetic and disposable society they are growing up in I am sure they would come out with a well rounded appreciation for all things religious –governmental – recycling – and otherwise.

I wish we could keep the Greats around forever. I miss my grandmas so much now. But I am FOREVER grateful that we had them... and that my children have had them... and that we have laughed long and hard over gluten-free muffins, puff-pastry inquiries, technical difficulties, and all of the space and differences between us. The greatest gift of the Greats has been the grace with which they have met each generation.

THE GREAT.