Visiting Grandpa

Hours and hours of political news shows and the conversation is bound to come up.

See Annabelle and I just returned from a whirlwind trip to see Grandpa. A few highlights? Grandpa sitting on the floor with Annabelle multiple times even though he knew it was difficult for him to get back up. When I offered to help him, he said "when I can no longer get up from the floor by myself, I won't get down there." And I always forget about his sweet tooth. I doubt the muffins I left will make it past tomorrow (maybe because he kept calling them cupcakes, which would give anyone reason to eat them at any time of day).

My visits with Grandpa are never filled with lots of things to do, but good ol' fashioned relaxing. He talked about how much he looks forward to summer, Patrick getting married next summer, how proud he is at the success of each of his children, and always a little about Grandma.

But today, there was plenty of political news to keep us interested. Wisconsin is in the middle of serious political turmoil, and grandpa and I are not on the same team. We talked about Muslim radicals, and how he says he's seen every new ethnic group in America go through the scrutiny. First the Italians, then the Irish, and so on. He has a strong dislike for Lindsay Lohan. And he admitted he watched Fox news because the women on that channel are the most attractive.

He then pondered aloud how these women could be so beautiful AND smart. I left that one alone.

And then he brought up social security and Medicare. Things I truly haven't thought that much about. But his ability to articulate the issue was uncanny and I took the time to put aside any small thoughts I might have and just listen. We may not always agree, but, to be entirely honest, he is probably more educated and wise on so many of these topics.