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Writer's pictureJesse Campbell

Don't Hug Grandma Too Tight



I know you’re excited to see her, dear, but please don’t hug your grandmother too tightly. She’s very old, you see. Her bones are brittle now, and you don’t want to hurt her, do you?


And don’t say rude things about the smell, okay? When people get old, their bodies change. She may not smell the way she used to, but that’s not her fault. It’s normal, the way the smell fills the house. If you feel a little sick, that’s normal, too.


We can’t open the blinds - your grandmother likes it better in the dark. She’s a private person. Her business is her own and we need to respect that.


Yes, I know she’s very cold. When you get old, sometimes your circulation doesn’t work very well. That means your blood doesn’t flow like it should. It sounds bad, but it’s okay. She’s just a little cold. She’s used to it by now.


I know there are a lot of flies, dear, but don’t say anything to your grandmother. It’s hard for her to keep up the house these days. Just swat them away or ignore them. They can’t hurt you. They aren’t hurting her.


No, you shouldn’t talk to your grandmother. Her hearing is bad and her throat is very dry, so it’s hard for her to have a conversation. Just let her know that you love her and don’t mind if she doesn’t say anything back.


There’s nothing crawling out of Grandma’s nose, dear. It’s dark in here. You’re seeing things.


Of course, we’ll come back and visit again soon. We love Grandma. We want everyone to know how much we love her and how good it is to see her.


You understand?


You should tell people that we saw your grandmother. And tell them that she’s well. She’s going to live for years and years and years.


Now be a dear and grab that letter that fell through the mail slot. The one that says Social Security. Grandma wants us to have it.


Say goodbye. Say I love you.


But don’t worry. We’ll be back next month.

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