by Roz Burak

I’m at Grandparents Day for my great niece and nephew.  I’m not a grandparent and was invited because I’m the closest thing to a grandparent for these two  – a Great Aunt.

What fun playing make believe at my age, We decided to call me “Bubbie.”  At first it was just a joke.  How funny — me as Bubbie!!!  Then I realized although I was old enough to be a Bubbie, 73, I never think of myself as experienced enough to be a Bubbie.  Oh well, really how much experience do you need to be a Bubbie???

Okay, another joy of aging — while I could be any one and any age in my mind, to the world I was a believable candidate for Bubbie.  And not a likely candidate for a Red-Hot Momma!!!!

What does it mean to be a grandparent???  What’s our obligation, or what’s the opportunity???

Bubbie or not, I see the opportunity of showing the younger generation that the last part of our life can be as creative and vibrant as the earlier years.  Aging isn’t about our aches and pains and what we can’t do.  Aging, just like the earlier years of our life,  allows us to find new interests, new abilities, new relationships and new opportunities.  It also gives us the opportunity to enjoy life in a whole new way.

I’ve had to develop the ability to ask people to do things for me without feeling helpless.  And to appreciate their contributions.  I’ve discovered the refreshing effects of taking a 20 minute nap any time — even right after breakfast.  I now feel comfortable saying no to things I really don’t want to do and to say yes to things I’m not sure I can do; like being a Bubbie. 

At some point during the morning I shifted from introducing myself as Bubbie to Faux Bubbie.  It seemed like a better conversation starter 🙂