Once upon a time I dated this guy from a small town in north Moravia. To cut long story short ... we broke up. We have not been in touch since that dramatic occasion and I don't mind but what persisted to this day are the knots that I tied. At least once a month we would go to the grandparents' place to chat, to dine, to simply have a word with elderly people, who were happy to see us. They were great people and I liked them more then his parents (an alcoholic Father and a neurotic first-grade teacher Mother).
After the split I had no objective reason to go see the grandparents. However, I thought that I should not cut the links I built and I still might want to visit them. Christmas was the right occasion and it happend so that the tradition has been set - every Christmas since 2002 me and my parents (yes, I involved them too!) visit my "3rd grandparents". Nothing fancy - we usually spend there an hour or so, little of a chit-chat. Granny is a tiny woman with a broad heart, she wants to please you with food and company and Grandaddy was a wise old man. They were recently saddened as their only son passed away 2 yeasr ago. Well, it is sad but if we consider his exuberant alcoholic life, one can just wonder how it is possible he lived for so long.
On March 15th I arrived home and an envelope with black stripe awaited me in my mail box. I immediately knew what and I knew who ...
My "third" Grandfather died and Granny remained all alone in their house. Her 2 grandchildren are occupied with their own problems and their own new-born kids, they even do not live in the same town. When I call her, she does not complain as such but I cannot miss the sadness in her voice saying "I am here all alone". All her adult life she was with her husband, they have been together for 60 years! And now he is gone. Gone forever. She remained here, stuck with a big house and solitude and no one who would express some sympathy. No one appreciates her kindness and long-life unselfishness. The kids come to say hi seldom and then just solitude remains again. When you are old, people tend to care less. Why? Old means useless? No! Please, do care for people, when they remain alone - they need it. It does not matter they are old - they still need us!
After the split I had no objective reason to go see the grandparents. However, I thought that I should not cut the links I built and I still might want to visit them. Christmas was the right occasion and it happend so that the tradition has been set - every Christmas since 2002 me and my parents (yes, I involved them too!) visit my "3rd grandparents". Nothing fancy - we usually spend there an hour or so, little of a chit-chat. Granny is a tiny woman with a broad heart, she wants to please you with food and company and Grandaddy was a wise old man. They were recently saddened as their only son passed away 2 yeasr ago. Well, it is sad but if we consider his exuberant alcoholic life, one can just wonder how it is possible he lived for so long.
On March 15th I arrived home and an envelope with black stripe awaited me in my mail box. I immediately knew what and I knew who ...
My "third" Grandfather died and Granny remained all alone in their house. Her 2 grandchildren are occupied with their own problems and their own new-born kids, they even do not live in the same town. When I call her, she does not complain as such but I cannot miss the sadness in her voice saying "I am here all alone". All her adult life she was with her husband, they have been together for 60 years! And now he is gone. Gone forever. She remained here, stuck with a big house and solitude and no one who would express some sympathy. No one appreciates her kindness and long-life unselfishness. The kids come to say hi seldom and then just solitude remains again. When you are old, people tend to care less. Why? Old means useless? No! Please, do care for people, when they remain alone - they need it. It does not matter they are old - they still need us!
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