A Lady You Should Know.

There's a lady I have to tell you about.
But I don't know why.
Really I can't figure out what her purpose is to me.
Doesn't everyone in your life serve a purpose? Or is that some ideal...

She's my in-laws neighbor at camp. She lives alone and drives herself around. To town to get supplies for her meatloaf. To visit her great-grandchildren.
She turned 93 on Thursday.

My in-laws invited her over for cocktail hour and dinner. Her contributions were too heavy for her to carry, she said to everyone... or no one because not one of them offered to go get them.

"I'll go get them." I looked around. Up to her house and back down again with a box of wine and a salad. Extra onions.

She had her first glass outside. It started raining but no one seemed to do anything about it.

"Let's move inside, it's raining." I said.

We gobbled up our food and everyone was up from the table soon after that. She kept eating. I stayed at the table so she didn't have to eat alone.

She said she knows people must think it's weird that none of her children came to visit for the weekend. She understands, they're all very busy. She told me this 4 or 5 my times over the course of the night.
I don't think other people thought it was weird.
I'm pretty sure she did.

I sat with her for 15 minutes.

She's a fish, that old girl, and my heavy-handed father in law filled glass after glass for her. She usually gets Sunset Blush because there's less alcohol but they were out. White Zinfandel seemed to be her new favorite.

"I should go, I should go" She said after dessert. Everyone seemed to ignore her request so she sat and watched us play a board game, thoroughly confused by the references to celebrities and reality tv.
The next day there was a big picnic, "it sounds suspicious" she said to everyone. I prayed for her that they had thought to make it a birthday party. 
Finally, my hubby escorted her home.

Around 1 o'clock when people started gathering I watched for her to come out of her house.
"I hope she didn't die last night" by husband said.
"Why would you say that?" I asked him.
Horrified.
I had been thinking the same thing.

She was collected and came down with the remainder of her White Zinfandel.

She was found a seat next to my in-laws and promptly deserted. I saw her sitting on the porch, by herself. I looked around at everyone. No one seemed to notice, so I went up to sit next to her.

She was making a move to get up. "Oh I didn't know if anyone was coming back."
"It's just so strange, I'm so much older than everyone here."
"I don't really know these people."
I felt totally, completely, and solely responsible for her. Where was everyone? Why aren't they sitting with her? Where are the damn party hats?

I told my hubby this as we left the picnic to take Drake for a walk.
"I feel responsible for her. I think you're all just used to having your Grandma around and take it for granted that there is this really old person here. Everyone is ignoring her."
He shrugged.
I wanted to cry.

When we got back the party was still in full swing. She had not been abandoned, nor had her wine glass.
She saw an empty chair next to me and sat down. She asked me if I wanted some wine.
"I'll have one if you do" she said.
I poured her another glass.

Around 6 o'clock she said it was about time to go home.
Some ladies grabbed her elbows and she tried to protest. They stayed latched on.
She gave everyone a giant hug and kiss.
"I just love everyone" she said.
"And we love you."
"I know it may seem like I'm drunk but I'm not.
I really love everyone."

And with that they walked her home.

She didn't say goodbye to me.