Ghost Stories

Maybe it's just 'cause I'm getting older. Grandma warned me about this. She said the older you get the more you have to reflect back on.

My grandma also gave me the best piece of advice I have ever heard. I am going to quote it a little later in this post and I hope that if any of you out there in cyberspace read this and want to share this advise you be sure to quote her too. My Grandma was an awesome strong woman. She showed me how to be and how not to be.

I remember being about 8 or 9 years old. We slept 3 in the bed- Grandma Annette, my younger sister and me. Before falling asleep, we'd ask Grandma questions about life and she would share her wisdom with us. In front of the world she was an obedient Italian wife. She worked at the sunbeam factory every day and clean the 3 bedroom apartment every night. She did what ever Grandpa told her to do-- even if she cursed the whole time doing it.

The funny thing is this great bit of wisdom came much later in life. I was having trouble in my marriage to the father of my children. Things weren't horrible, but they weren't what I wanted or expected from this man and this marriage. I shared with Grandma, and only Grandma my secret desire to leave. My fear-- everyone thought of my ex as a "nice guy". He was a nice guy, but he wasn't a very good husband and in my opinion he was worse as a father.

I poured my heart out to my Grandma. And she listened, not saying a word until the I was sobbing uncontrollably. Then she lifted her head and Grandma Annette said "Annamaire, you don't want to be an old lady on your death bed with a head full of regrets. At that point I knew I had to leave.

"You don't want to be an old lady on your death bed with a head full of regrets."

Sound advise.