Time has surely flown by. It was Labor Day weekend and I was pulling my hair out, trying to squeeze an entire apartment into two bedrooms and place sentimental items around my home for my grandma in-law to come live with us. Her dementia was progressing since the loss of her daughter. She lived in a second-floor apartment an hour and a half away. It was time. 

Another day, it was still dark and quiet outside. While still enjoying my morning coffee, my thoughts turned to, "What shall I feed grandma for breakfast? What outfit should I put together for her? Where will her mind be this morning? What memory will she share with me as I help her begin her day?"

Grandma asked, "Do you work today?"

I replied, "yes."

"And what is it you do?"

I told her, "I work for the phone company".

She said, "Oh, I have such wonderful memories from when I was a switchboard operator in Philadelphia. I can still hear all the girls laughing. Do you know that is how I met my honey?”

Grandma’s eye teared up as she told her story.

"It was the 1940s. I was in my early 20s. I lived with my sister, Rita and brother-in-law, Claude. My commute was over an hour and I worked split tours. One day Rita said to Claude, ‘You need to go in with Lorraine and help her find an apartment or a room closer to work.’ Next thing you know, I had a room at the YWCA.

What a beautiful place. I was on the floor with the single ladies. Back in my day, the ladies and gentlemen were separated. There was a beautiful roof garden. We would gather there and chat or dance and listen to music. That is where I met Granddad.

One beautiful evening, the girls and I were talking about our dreams of marriage and raising a family. I feel a tap on my shoulder. It was a handsome young man who began to put his two cents into our conversation. I snipped at him and said, "Well you ought to know, you are married."

He snipped back "I most certainly am not!"

You see, I would see him in the elevator with a young lady and just assumed he was coming from the married couple’s floor. 

Jim was very persistent. He would leave notes in my mailbox. My favorite was when he asked me for a date: "I will take you to the movies if you pay." Our beautiful life together began there. We were married for nearly 60 years. What wonderful times we shared. I saved every love note he would leave for me before going to work.

Grandma has photo albums and scrapbooks of her entire life. She pulls them out nearly every evening and shares her stories. I feel like I am there at times.

 I lost both of my grandmothers many years ago. I am now blessed with my husband's grandmother, who was born in 1925. My life is now filled with many stories and memories she shares. I love to see her eyes light up and the smile on her face as she takes me back in time. 

My goal when I retire is to volunteer to assist seniors. There are so many who do not have family members or even friends to assist them or keep them company. Grandma has now been diagnosed with diabetes and possible pancreatic cancer. It is so rewarding to know she is not alone and she is very much loved and taken care of.