In the last one week I spend some memorable time with 4 Octogenarians. They are a stark reminder of what's in store beyond the busy schedules, the glitzy night life, the voyeuristic shopping and the ensemble of relationships that define each day.
Some are lucky to spend the sunset days with a dear one. Among these 4, just one of them is blessed to live with her daughter. The rest of them where even more blessed to have found caretakers who are taking care of them than their children would have. In HIS big plans no one goes unnoticed. There seem to have someone somewhere to be with us during our final days.
A big salute to that particular child or care taker who takes care of them as its not an easy task. There's one thing in common in all of these aging grandparents. They are child like. Childlike laughter, sleeping more during the day and less during night and childlike selfishness out of helplessness. Dementia and early signs of Alzheimer's makes the going even tougher for both. One fights with an aging memory that struggles to hold together the pieces of their being while the other garnering strength and patience to love them.
Seems this is the first generation of Octogenarians since the global migration started. The population of parents whose children and grandchildren have been living in various parts of the world are increasing every day. The generations behind mine are fortunate to have larger families and to have a family house that is not always emptied by the last child packing his/her bag to move across the seas or in a bustling city in India that they choose to build a life and career.
An occasional get together at the family home on a christmas day or a birthday marking a milestone happens as long as the parents are alive. Thereafter…. there is no reason to visit the family home which may have been passed on to one of the sibling. The framed memories on the stained walls remain endlessly waiting for a footstep on the dusty floors.
Its common these days for people to console their inner worry for the unknown sunset days with the thought of having enough money to find shelter in a old age home that provides all the comforts that may be required to have a peaceful exit.
A prayer that someone somewhere cares everyone while the sun sets.
