Glutbusters

October 13, 2006

Ninety Years Young

Some things I learned about my grandmother Moo at her 90th birthday party on Sunday:

1. After defiantly divorcing my grandfather in an era when mothers forbade their children from playing with the children of divorced parents, she was briefly engaged again. Then she broke it off, declaring the match profoundly unsuitable. She denies to this day that the engagement ever existed. She was friends with her jilted fiance until he died a few years ago, leaving her the twice-yearly dividend on his Coles-Myer shares, a windfall that she spread around her grandchildren "for petrol" even after I'd finished uni, got a job, and sent my car to the wreckers.

2. She received a letter of congratulations from John Howard for her birthday and declared she'd joyously tear it up. This was some relief, as for a short period before she went to live in a home, she was subsisting on nothing but brandy and crackers, not having the energy or the inclination to cook. This took some toll on her mental state, and for a brief time she declared that when the election came round she'd vote for Howard "because he's never done anything wrong by me". In fact, she defiantly informed us, his pre-election tax cut for pensioners had allowed her to buy a smart new pantsuit from Fella. Now she is back to ranting about how marvellous Gough is.

3. She is in no danger of dropping off any time soon. Her sister is 99 and still going, and most of her siblings died in their 90s. Bless.

UPDATE: The 99 year-old sister had a fall and died just the other night. She was ready to go.

4. Her short-term memory not being anything like it used to be, she will no longer remember if I haven't visited her for a while. This makes me want to visit her more often. And I will.

Happy birthday, Moo.

Filed under Peter