OT - Story - The Grim Reaper

Oma's Birthday was on Thursday, and my mom decided that she would be
the one to call. My grandparents get freaked if we all call (all the
way from America!), so we trade off. Mom first called at about 2
p.m. their time, and Oma told her off: "The Mayor was supposed to be
here an hour ago, and he's late. Get off the phone so if he calls
and tells me why he's late, the line won't be busy. The priest is
here, too; and we're taking pictures for the newspaper."

Yep, you know it's a very small town when someone turning 85 merits a
story in the newspaper, and a visit from the priest and a visit from
the mayor, as well as a big party from the family. I've described
the parties before, and this one will be the same as all the others.

After getting the dressing down from her mother, my mother decided to
do some yard work and errands. She completely lost track of time,
and before long, realized that it was nearly 8 p.m. in Germany.
Oops. That's big-time middle-of-the-night late to my grandparents,
so Mom called right away. Oma picked up on the first ring, and gave
her a bit of a dressing down for calling in the middle of the night.

Anyway. Everything's fine there, Oma had a great birthday, the Mayor
eventually showed up, and nothing much is new in the village. But Oma
was tired, and Opa wanted to get on the phone. As usual, he was
grumbly. He's always grumbly, but it means nothing. He laughs and
grumbles at the same time, and at 91, he's earned the right to do
whatever he wants.

His grumble for this phone call was that my Tante Lia failed her
driver's test again. She's failed about thirty times, and it's not a
cheap thing over there. Oma and Opa really need Lia to be able to
drive, since she lives with them and is their source of
transporation. (Don't mention cabs. This village is small enough
that people stare out the windows at "strangers" when I visit. No
taxicabs there)

"I told Lia that I would split the cost of getting a driver's license
with her" grumbled Opa. "Who knew it would cost me thousands of
D-marks?" (Yeah, I know it's Euros. But if he wants to call them
D-Marks, he's going to call them D-Marks.)

Tante Lia was sitting right there, so she grabbed the phone to get
her two pfennigs in. She drives perfectly well (or so she says), but
when the examiner gets in the car she gets nervous, and it causes her
problems during the test. So there, Opa.

Tante Lia wanted to know how "poor little Kathleen" was doing, and my
mother asked why she thought I was such a sad case. (Mom was a
little jealous that she wasn't getting pity over being laid off)
Tante Lia explained that my mother had planned on leaving work
anyway, but "Poor Little Kathleen" has been visited by an illness
that won't go away, and that she prays for me every day. So there,
Mom.

Besides, I'm a spoiled little favorite with the Tantes, because I
love to spend time with them and let them talk. And they love to talk
- and a willing audience is a rare thing to them. To me, their
stories are treasures. (But hearing the "Poor Little Kathleen" part
makes me laugh. I feel like an orphan in one of Grimm's Fairy
tales.)

Opa grabbed the phone again. He started grumbling about the weather,
since they've already had snow for quite a while. "Those winters are
tough on me, and they get worse every year. I think I have enough
firewood put by, though." he said. That's the understatement of the
week. Opa has enough firewood split and ready for the stoves for at
least ten years.

"I keep cutting firewood, because you never know" said Opa. "People
keep telling me that I have enough for the rest of my life, but I'm
not going anywhere. I told the Grim Reaper to check back with me in
five years, and I'll let him know when I'll be ready then. Maybe. I
have too much to do to be worrying about dying."

I love that. How many 91 year old people are making plans for five
years from now? Probably the same number that grow their own food
and chop their own wood. Boy, I love them to pieces - and I could
picture the whole conversation as my mom related it. Everyone in the
living room, and the phone ringing in the "middle of the night," and
Opa and Lia grabbing the phone from each other's hands, while Oma
clucked disapprovingly in the background.

I might not be at the aprty today physically, but my heart is there.
Happy Birthday, Oma.

Kathy N-V

"Kathy N-V" wrote in message
. giganews.com...
Oma's Birthday was on Thursday, and my mom decided that she would be
the one to call. My grandparents get freaked if we all call (all the
way from America!), so we trade off. Mom first called at about 2
p.m. their time, and Oma told her off: "The Mayor was supposed to be
here an hour ago, and he's late. Get off the phone so if he calls
and tells me why he's late, the line won't be busy. The priest is
here, too; and we're taking pictures for the newspaper."


Great story, Kathy. I have German grand parents too, so I can relate. When
my Opa was 74, he got it in his head that he was going to build a new house.
Oma asked him how he was going to pay for it, did he mean to use their
saving, and he replied that no, he was going to get a 20 year mortgage.

Well, he didn't build the house, but he could have paid off the mortgage.
I'm sure it was a shock to him when he died in his sleep at 95.

Cindy

I love your stories. I can't relate to any of this one, because my family has
been in America for many generations, and my oldest relative lived to 81.

That sure doesn't stop me from enjoying the story, though! I hope you write a
book someday. (Or if you already have, please let me know so I can get a
copy.)
Joan Eckard

http://mothwoman.com

http://stores.ebay.com/Mothwoman-Beads-and-Jewelry

http://www.justbeads.com/search/ql.cfm?s=Mothwoman

I might not be at the aprty today physically, but my heart is there.
Happy Birthday, Oma.


From me too, Oma. Thanks for sharing them with us, Kathleen. smirk

Cheri
(Bubbee to Emily and Nathan)

It's my life
And it's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive - Bon Jovi

I wasn't even born yet when my grandmother was 81.

Tina


"Mothwoman" wrote in message
...
I love your stories. I can't relate to any of this one, because my family
has
been in America for many generations, and my oldest relative lived to 81.

That sure doesn't stop me from enjoying the story, though! I hope you
write a
book someday. (Or if you already have, please let me know so I can get a
copy.)
Joan Eckard

http://mothwoman.com

http://stores.ebay.com/Mothwoman-Beads-and-Jewelry

http://www.justbeads.com/search/ql.cfm?s=Mothwoman

Happy Birthday to OMA!


Sounds like a "very interesting day" at their house... LOL

after 30 tries - I think she needs to give up.....

Has she tried a professional school - with a teacher - at least she'd get used
to having someone driving in the car with her...... making critical
obsrevations of her skills -
Maybe that would help get her over the "test anxiety" thing...
Cheryl
DRAGON BEADS
Flameworked beads and glass
http://www.dragonbeads.com/

On Sat, 4 Dec 2004 21:24:35 -0500, Christina Peterson wrote
(in message ):

I wasn't even born yet when my grandmother was 81.

Tina

Oma was 70 years old plus eight days when she became a great
grandmother to Amanda. If I had been a little quicker, Oma's mother
could have been a great-great grandmother.

I've been reminded of my shame more than once. It's a lot of
responsibility being the oldest one of a generation. For the longest
time they worried I'd never have any children, since I was "so old"
and showed no signs of marrying. FWIW, I got married three weeks
after my 25th birthday. Then they worried themselves sick that I was
infertile, because I didn't get pregnant instantly, having Amanda
_two years!_ after I got married. (Oh the horror!)

Oma was 42 - the same age than I am now! EEEEEK - when she became a
grandmother for the first time. I cannot even begin to imagine being
a grandmother at my age. My mother freaked because she was "too
young" to be a grandmother when Manda was born, and she was 49 years
old.

If Manda's plans are anything to go by, it's a good thing that my
parents and grandparents are long lived. She wants to get her PhD
before she marries, and then wants to "wait a few years" to decide is
she wants children.

On the other end, my cousin Heinz just started his family, and his
parents are in their mid sixties. It's unlikely that his children
will remember a great deal about Oma and Opa when they're grown.

Kathy N-V (in no hurry to be a grandmother at all)

My mother freaked because she was "too
young" to be a grandmother when Manda was born, and she was 49 years
old.



I was 47 when I became a grandmother the first time. I'm the youngest of my
friends, but the first with grandkids! I was fussing and fuming away - until I
saw her. She was a month premature, tiny and yellow with billirubin. The
snugliest, cuddliest baby you ever saw.

My mom was 44 was Jess was born. She's only 19 years older than me (mom, not
jess) so it serves her right. lol

Cheri
(Bubbee to Emily and Nathan)

It's my life
And it's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive - Bon Jovi

Mom was a grandmother at 37. We have very long and very short generations
in my family. Dad's parents were in their mid 80s when I was born; though
she would have been around 45 when her first grandchild was born. I wish I
could have known them better. Imagine all the changes she saw between 1865
and 1960 too!!

I was 52 when my sweet granddaughter was born, so I guess I fall in the
middle. I worry for Victoria's other grandmother. She had a heart attack a
month ago, and I worry even more because Ukraine could erupt so easily into
civil war.

Tina


"Kathy N-V" wrote in message
. giganews.com...
On Sat, 4 Dec 2004 21:24:35 -0500, Christina Peterson wrote
(in message ):

I wasn't even born yet when my grandmother was 81.

Tina

Oma was 70 years old plus eight days when she became a great
grandmother to Amanda. If I had been a little quicker, Oma's mother
could have been a great-great grandmother.

I've been reminded of my shame more than once. It's a lot of
responsibility being the oldest one of a generation. For the longest
time they worried I'd never have any children, since I was "so old"
and showed no signs of marrying. FWIW, I got married three weeks
after my 25th birthday. Then they worried themselves sick that I was
infertile, because I didn't get pregnant instantly, having Amanda
_two years!_ after I got married. (Oh the horror!)

Oma was 42 - the same age than I am now! EEEEEK - when she became a
grandmother for the first time. I cannot even begin to imagine being
a grandmother at my age. My mother freaked because she was "too
young" to be a grandmother when Manda was born, and she was 49 years
old.

If Manda's plans are anything to go by, it's a good thing that my
parents and grandparents are long lived. She wants to get her PhD
before she marries, and then wants to "wait a few years" to decide is
she wants children.

On the other end, my cousin Heinz just started his family, and his
parents are in their mid sixties. It's unlikely that his children
will remember a great deal about Oma and Opa when they're grown.

Kathy N-V (in no hurry to be a grandmother at all)