Anna

My Polish-fought-the-Nazis-via-the-Warsaw-underground-when-she-was-18 grandmother talks too much about her inevitable demise, about how she's slowing down and sleeping too much and about to turn 90. Talk of the future is always in terms of, "If I am still around." "I will love to see your photos of Korea if I am still around." "I am going to California in October if I am still around." & etc.

She also says great things like, "If I buy clothing at $1 a pound, that leaves me a lot of money for wine," and, "I like men, I like their little tushies, but they are such babies." If I aspired to things like weddings or children, I would say, I hope she is around to see that. I do aspire to a lot of other things that I hope she is around to see, but really it's ridiculous to expect everyone you love will be able to see everything you do in your lifetime of which they would be proud. Lately I just find myself wanting to introduce her to friends. Because I want to show her off, and am proud of knowing such good people, I guess.