I had the fine privilege of training and getting to know a wonderful woman in her 80’s named Marge. I started training her in our Exercise to Wellness program and when COVID hit, we took our training sessions first to Zoom, and then outdoors (once we’d both been vaccinated).
A fascinating woman, who had faced many challenges and deep loss, including the death of one of her son’s, Marge gifted me with perspective, experience, and grace. She became a surrogate grandmother to my daughter and I would often distract her with stories while she exercised.
Marge would send cards and books to Kidlette, and I would send pictures and drawings. One of the gifts of Zoom training was that the two of them got to see each other a bit. The best was one day I brought Kidlette with me and she LOVED “training at Nana Marge’s house.”
Last year, Marge suffered a stroke and it wasn’t the kind you rebound from. When she passed, I decided to leave fitness. It wasn’t a healthy place for me and I realized I was wanting to leave for a while but never would have quit on Marge. I loved our visits.
I’d tell her about K’s antics and she’d marvel at the change in parenting styles over time. “I can’t ever imagine my mother getting down on the floor with me,” she told me with a grin. Never judgmental, but filled with curiosity and delight.
I loved Marge and I know she loved us. The other day I was in my garden and noticed some of the bulbs I buried last year are poking through to say hello. Marge got me to do that. I told her about how I’d replanted a bulb once and was so thrilled when it poked through.
“Oh, I do that with all my bulbs!” She shared, “Stick em in the dirt and then I forget where I put them until they come up. It’s like a present to yourself.”
So as their little green sprouts poked through I smiled and thought “Hi Marge. Thank you for your love and lessons.”
It’s gonna be, y’all. I won’t say it’s gonna be okay, because things are mighty hard. But it’s gonna be. It’s gonna be spring eventually, things will blooms, things will change, and life will continue.
It’s gonna be. And You are loved. By me and others.
Chew something, and hydrate.
xox
Pretty Good Ugly 