SWINDELL Loc: Portland, Maine

The most beautiful people know are those who have know defeat, known suffering, know struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

mwoods222 Loc: Newburg N.Y,

Well said

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Very nice quote. Makes me think of my wife's grandmother, who had a hard life - recently died at 94. She worked at the nursing home "with the old people" until she could no longer work at age 75. Always had the most beautiful smile - and not just the smiling mouth but the smiling, light-filled eyes. Even at age 92 she could tell you the details of each grandchild, niece, and nephew - where they were and what they were doing. And she could also describe being a teenaged housekeeper for wealthy "summer people" on the coast of Maine back in the 1930's.

She lived until her last year in the two-room house her husband had built for them decades earlier. She was one of four seniors featured in a New York Times article about stoic elderly Mainers surviving the long winters with very little. She said that one of her greatest joys was a bit of a Hershey's chocolate bar every day. As a result of that article she received chocolate bars from all over the country, including a large box from the Hershey's Corporation. When the NYT did a follow-up piece, she advised them that she had given it all away - "What joy is there to keep it all to yourself?" she asked. A truly beautiful person.

Elizabeth Emerson

BIPSTER Loc: Virginia

The true meaning of "beautiful"

Shakey Loc: Traveling again to Norway and other places.

Yep, a beautiful lady. :thumbup:

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

sb,

Sorry about your recent loss of your wife's grandmother; express my and our sympathies to your wife.

My mother who died at age 93 and played golf twice a week until she was 90 used to go up to the local old age home to help the 'old people' until she stopped driving at age 91, and she had never had an accident until some kid ran a light and T-boned her car about ten years before. She was Royally Po'd!

Chelli

Well said.
Life's journey is about selflessness and sacrifice.

Bushymonster Loc: Oklahoma City. OK.

One VERY beautiful, wonderful, unselfish, well deserved fantastic women of our time. May God Bless her and keep her close to his bosom.
-Bushy

meatyore

Thanks for sharing- both Swindell & Sb. I have an aunt who is very similar to your wife's grandma...my aunt is 88, and the 'glue' that holds the entire extended family together. People of this caliber are getting harder and harder to find!

RS Loc: W Columbia, SC

Wow!! Thanks for that input about your wife's grandmother. It is type of subject matter that we should have on here once in a while to make us all stop and think about life in general.
I'm 73 and in the middle age-wise of ten kids in our family - my oldest sister is 83. It is a real shame that about the only time we have all been together for a good number of years has been for someone's funeral.
Anyway, thanks for the story, and you all can be very proud.

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

"....the only time we have all been together for a good number of years has been for someone's funeral."

RS, I think that statement goes for most of us as we grow older and move further apart. Fortunately, there are usually some "Happy Occasions", like kid's weddings interspersed with the solemn ones, although they too get fewer with time.