Girl Talk with Libby...(my 90 year old self)

The Girls and Ethel, 94 and Libby, 90.

The first quiet weekend since everyone was home finds Dennis in Wisconsin and me on my way to ND to see Grandma.

When I got to Grandma's at about 1, she was ready to go for our drive. She hates getting in and out of my Escalade, but I hoisted her in and we took off. We drove to the farm about an hour from Grand Forks. I hadn't seen the new house yet, so I was looking forward to it. We took a drive through Whitman, where Great Grandma Mary and Great Grandpa Vendlin. Whitman is no more...it's a deserted town now, but it used to be more active. It was where my great grandparents moved after living on the farm. There is nothing left of the town at all except a few scattered homes, an abandoned railroad track and elevators. Grandpa used to own the bar there and I remember it slightly. Mostly I remember going to the town... just up an alley way with the quarter he gave me to spend... probably to get me out of their hair, but it felt like he wanted to treat me.

We made it to the farm and we weren't able to get in the house. So I looked around the outside and peaked in a few windows. I walked around a bit while Grandma sat in the car. I got bit by a few danged North Dakota mosquitos and then we left and drove back to Michigan...another deserted North Dakota town.
Grandpa Clarence's sister Libby (one of my favorite names by the way) lives there. We stop in every now and again to visit. It took a while before she heard my knocking, she was engulfed in some TV show about a woman rock climbing (we heard all about it and that she sure wouldn't ever want to do that!) But finally she hollered back at me and came to the door.

What struck me this visit was how much I saw myself in her spry 90-year old self. Wow. I saw Naarah too. She was all GO TIME. She looked very healthy and young and lively and will turn 90 next month. She has her garden, they took her car away so she can't drive anymore, but she walks every day. She did have a few health issues and told me she had her left breast removed in January.... they took it all...want to see? And before I could answer she lifted her shirt and showed me the scar that was once her breast. I was in shock, as I have never seen what is left after a mastectomy. She had no qualms about showing us girls, was glad to be healthy, it was like a battle scar to her. She and Grandma Ethel exchanged a few stories. Grandma not being a talker... shared a few words about losing her two breasts...year, place and that's about it. Libby however had details. She told us that after the surgery they fitted her for a bra with a fake breast. It's so heavy she never wears it and she proceeded to bring it out to show us. She took out the foam padding and we all got to touch it. She also said she was given...FOR FREE...six of them. She took them cause they were free, but she is going to bring some back. What would I need six bras for? She conceded that people might look at her funny all lopsided, but who sees her anyway? She lives in Michigan.
I enjoyed the girl talk. I gave Libby a hug when I left. She teared up a bit. I doubt she gets many of those anymore.