visit with great grandma

Mom's grandma, Barbara senior is in Philadelphia for 2.5 months.  She arrived in early January, after 11 years of insisting that the trip is too long for her.  How come? Apparently everything is possible when one is desperate enough.

I had met her before, of course, but couldn't remember her too well.  Last time I saw her was one and a half year ago in her apartment in Thessaloniki.  It was a stressful visit as usual, with mom anxious to get out of there before her uncle comes back and me being nervous that she will leave me behind.

18 months is a long time when dealing with some developmental stages.  For adults, 18 months is nothing, as people don't change too much at that age.  But with kids and elders, 18 months is a long time.  Mom was shocked to see her grandmother walk with great difficulty and wear diapers.  The first few days were a period of adjustment: mom stormed online and bought a bath lift, a commode, abundant supplies of diapers, and a rolling chair.  All were a great success with Barbara senior except for the rolling chair which she refused to see out of the box, even.  At the age of 81, pride is pride.

After the initial shock, things calmed down.  Truth be told, mom has not had quality time with her grandma since she was a teenager, and who wants to remember that age anyway.  All these years visits were too stressful and hurried, with never enough time or privacy.  Now, for the first time there is time to talk, time to laugh, time to get bored, and time to fight, just like a normal - dare I say it? - family!

As for me, I'm rather annoyed, because great grandma took my spot on the couch, mom's attention (who now has to clean after two incontinent elders), she can't take me out and doesn't give me any treats (too afraid to disobey mom's orders).  What good is she?