For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for March 24, 2021

my maternal grandparents’ house in Arizona was definitely small: only a few bedrooms (Grandpa’s own room, Grandma’s own bedroom, and one or two guest rooms)

I did this for my in-laws every time we were there. They would say “don’t bother” but never really tried to stop me. I just cleaned, never rearranged (even though I dearly wanted to.) I think they appreciated the help, even if they never said so. :D

First, I am not sure why Elizabeth is wearing her grandmother’s clothes. Second, I understand exactly what Elizabeth means when she says the house seems smaller to her. I am getting the same feeling about the house just looking at it change from panel to panel.

I can relate. The older I got, the less I care about dusting. Until someone is coming over, that is. Then I get into a frenzy to get the house in a presentable state.

I got that feeling at my great grandfather’s house as I grew up. His house on a corner lot always seemed really big, with long hallways, big rooms and a huge front lawn. We’d go there for Christmas every year with all my aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins and friends. He had a basement downstairs where some of them would set up a table and play poker. I even slept down there a couple of times.

Skip several years and then we go back when I was a junior in high school. Suddenly the house seemed much smaller. The family room, kitchen and laundry rooms now seemed cramp. Even the basement seemed to shrink, with it’s ceiling only 3 inches over my head. Now that I could walk the whole house I realized it had only 2 bedrooms and one bathroom. I was a bit shocked.

Makes me wonder how small my first home was when I was ages 2-7. It seemed big enough back then, but now I realize it was a bit….cozy. Changes in perspectives over time is amazing.

Time marches on.

Just have Elizabeth take a walk down through memory lane in her old grade school. And then she could see how tiny it was.

Elizabeth looks like she’s married to Dr. Evil or Kim Jong Un.

Meanwhile, back at home…

Elizabeth’s reaction puts me in mind of two of my uncles: My folks and I lived just a few houses down from my grandmother. This meant that every time something needed to be fixed or there was a spring/fall cleaning to do, my folks were called on to help out. Also, Gram never owned a car so that meant my folks took her along every Friday night to go shopping. It was was all done out of love and there was no expectation of payment – which is good because a cup of coffee and a slice of cake was really all she could afford to give them anyway. One year both of my uncles and their families – who lived 7 hours away in opposite directions – were in town for a week of vacation. Everyone was at Gram’s house after church and my parents had the audacity to suggest that the families spend an afternoon at the house and help out with some project or other. Both Aunts and Uncles promptly informed them that they were “ON VACATION” and did NOT come here to work. After that, my folks always wondered “When do WE get a vacation?”

I remember when my parents went from a (technically) 5-bedroom/2 bathroom house to a tiny 1-bedroom apartment. Watching them whittle over 50 years of marriage down to bare essentials was sad. (I said “technically” because it was a 4-bedroom, but my dad built another room in the basement.) Then, when my mother died in 2018, my dad went from that apartment to a single room/shared kitchen & bathrooms in a senior home. (Side note, just because I need to get it out…my apologies: When Dad was diagnosed with Covid & was taken to the hospital, the house had the nerve to send my sister a letter, telling her that we needed to find someone else for Dad. When Dad died soon after, they didn’t even apologize or acknowledge.)

Same Lizzie, same…

I suppose my day is coming. I wonder if Merry Maids offers a senior discount?

Bad idea, Elly. Remember when your father broke the ceiling because he had nothing better to do except futz around your attic? Leave well enough alone. The worst kind of guest is a busybody.

That is what I am waiting for us to downsize. We are not empty nesters. I agree with Eli on the house for her parents yet she has to convince them to move.When my Grandma became a widow, all the son’s convinced her to sell and move, reason she lived in another state and 3 of the sons wanted her to move in a metro state easier to look after her, she did, found a 1 bedroom house just big enough for her. My mom included and rest of daughter-in-laws took time to help her with the house. Brought up memories. I was finished with HS then she passed age 91 or 92. She lived in small town, After 40 years we went to a funeral of an uncle and aunt and uncle chose that state to be buried in, that small town died that my grandparent’s used to live in.

that’s because you are growing up! things are always bigger when you are smaller.

I wish I could talk my bride into moving to a smaller house. We never use the four bedrooms upstairs and the rest of the house is too big to keep clean. This was her grandmothers house and, at the time with four young boys, it was perfect for us. They are all moved out now (YAY) and we no longer need this big old place, but she won’t move.

I told my girls, please don’t ever let me live in filth, hire me someone. I’m 82 full of arthritis, so I hired my own.

I knew it was probably time for my grandmother to go into assisted living when we visited one July and she’d forgotten how to work the thermostat and it was 85 degrees in the house.

On the plus side, I was in my 50’s, not Elizabeth’s age.

When I was little my grandparents lived out of town in a mansion. It was huge, with big columns out front. Years later we drove past it just to look, and it was just a house, with a couple supports for the porch roof out front. Perspective.