The Great Grandma Race: When Age Meets Laughter and Love

It was an afternoon in the old family house, sunny. The windows were open and a fresh breeze blew in bringing the fragrance of flowers with it. The house was rich with laughter since some of the family members have come to see them. There were children running through the corridors, parents are chatting in the living-room, and the seniors are in their best chairs, watching around with a grin on their lips.

These included Grandma Mary and Grandma Ruth who were sisters, and had had a long, full life. They were both in their nineties, their white-as-snow hair, their wrinkled faces, telling of joys, sufferings, and wisdom. The old ladies have been brought up together, played common games together in their childhood, faced numerous hardships together and now they coexisted in harmony with their respective families.

They were also characterized by their rivalry. They teased one another even at their age. Mary cookies were softer, said Ruth, had Mary baked cookies. Should Ruth knit a sweater, Mary would say hers was warmer. It was never cruel, it was always entertaining and the family loved to watch them challenge each other in minor tasks.

The old family house was a sunny afternoon. The windows were open and there was a light breez blowing in that brought with it the odor of flowers in the garden. There was much laughter in the house as some of the family members came to visit. Kids were running down the corridors, parents were chatting in the lounge, and the seniors were sitting in their most favorite chairs, observing all the sights with smiles on their faces.

The sisters were Grandma Mary and Grandma Ruth, who had lived long and rich lives. They were elderly, both in their nineties with white as snow hair, and numerous wrinkles on their faces telling about joy, pain and wisdom. The two had been childhood friends and they grew up together sharing the same childhood games and endured a lot of hardships and now they lived happily in their respective families.

They also were described as having sparring relationships. Even at their age, they teased each other. If Mary baked cookies Ruth would say hers were soft. If Ruth knitted a sweater Mary would say that hers was warmer. It was never cruel, it was always playful, and the family loved to see them play the game in small-scale.

It was a strange thing that happened that day. As people were all chatting in the living room, Mary and Ruth, both of whom used walkers to move around started joking with each other on who walked faster.

Mary laughed, and said, You are older, but these legs know how to move.

Ruth laughed aloud and answered, sister, don t be deluded. This walker could not make me beat you in a race.”

The entire room was quiet a moment, then erupted in laughter. The children were applauding, the grown-ups were cheering, and in a moment somebody yelled, “Let there be a race!”

Mary and Ruth at first feigned resistance. They told me I was too old, it was stupid. Yet deep within they played upon their hearts, and their hearts loved the thought. And at last with twinkling eyes they both said Yes.

The family soon cleared the living room. Chairs were moved, the rug straightened and the way cleared. The racecourse was prepared: on one side of the room to the other, approximate ten meters. It wasn t a lot to young people but to 2 grandmas with walkers it seemed like a marathon.

The grandchildren behaved like organizers One of them put a start line by drawing with the chalk, and another one put a pillow on the other end as an indication of the finish line. All the people were huddling around to watch and the living room became a stadium with excitement.

Mary was ready at the starting line with her walker on a determined smile. Ruth stood beside her, straightening her cardigan, like someone about to appear on the stage. Both grandmas were serious, but their eyes were happy.

Ready, set…. go! yelled one of the grandchildren.

The room cheered and both grandmas started advancing toward each other, slowly, step by step. The soles of the walkers creaked on the ground and the wooden floors rung with determination.

Mary pushed her walker rapidly, and her little feet went at an amazing rate. Ruth was slow and deliberate, however, without a corresponding slowness of pace. At first Mary led the way, going two steps in advance.

The children yelled, Go, Grandma Mary! and others yelled, Come on, Grandma Ruth! The entire family was split into two cheering sections, and noise and laughter filled the room.

Halfway through the race Ruth started to gain. Mary was breathing hard now as she was going too fast. With her regular gait Ruther glided up, and drew nearer. The people became louder and the tension increased.

A moment their walkers bumped, side by side. Grandma and grandma looked at each other and their faces were full of determination and fun. They used to race when they were little girls in the fields many years before and now they were racing again at ninety, and the spirit of competition is clearly immortal.

Mary said, so softly that Ruth could hardly hear her, I won t let you win, Ruth.

We shall see.

When they came to the finish line, the family sat up and cheered and clapped. The two sisters were nearly equal, when something good came along.

Ruth started, and for a moment stopped. She glanced at her sister, and read her resolution, and she smiled and allowed Mary to take a step forward. Mary got to the pillow first, her walker clanking it with a small triumphal sound.

A cheer went up in the room. The children would jump and the adults would clap and Mary would raise her hands in joy. I said so! I said so! she cried delightedly.

Then she turned to Ruth with her smiling warmly. The face of Mary softened. She grabbed the hand of her sister and raised both of them up as champions. We both win, she said, in the old grammar sense, 191

The family will clap louder than before The race was fun but the true triumph was the love and respect that the sisters had.

That night the two grandmas sat together drinking tea as the family kept on entertaining each other with the race. Ruth leaned forward, and whispered, I gave you the game.”

Mary chuckled. And that I know. Yet you gave me the best race of my life, too.”

They laughed together, in a blend of tones of the old days. The family gazed with admiration at them. These two participants knew that this wasn’t just a race of speed, but rather a race of spirit, joy, and companionship between two old souls that still knew how to have fun.

Since that day, The Great Grandma Race story was repeated so many times by all in the family. It was a memory that brought a smile every time. Whenever someone thought that they were too old or too tired, they would think of Mary and Ruth whose walkers were racing and realize that age can slow the body but the heart can always stay young.