The 100 Years Club Installment #155: To Grandmother’s House We Go…

Yup..it’s time to celebrate the holidays with family & friends.

And now, I am the grandmother.

To grandmother’s house we go? Nope. My grandparents are long gone. And no one is coming to my house.

In fact, I don’t even have a house. I live in a 700-sf apartment because I’m that kind of nana.

This isn’t a rant about how many people marginalize older women. In the spirit of the season, I’ll keep things light and loving.

As I age, I am more grateful than ever for the family and friends who make my life better. Most years since my divorce and relocation, I have indulged in a Thanksgiving-season East Coast “walkabout,” stopping in a few places to reconnect with people from my past and spend as much time as possible with my grown kids and their kids.

It’s one of my newish traditions. 

Although I love visiting places from my past while I’m here, I don’t dwell on days gone by. It can sometimes be painful or disappointing. But I do make an effort to reconnect with people I’ve known for years, because human connection is even more vital in our AI-powered era.

Yes…this is my own grandmother, who is actually younger in this picture than I am now.

Is “grandmother’s house” now metaphorical?

After all, more than half of all grandparents don’t live near their grandkids these days.

So, any place or any person that conjures up memories can be your grandmother’s house.

It smells familiar, may be filled with love and seasonal treats, and can make you think about how far you’ve come since the prior year (or decades).

If you’re lucky, it involves some heartfelt hugs. But you can also be your own grandmother.

If you’re feeling especially nostalgic or nurturing this holiday season:

1. Look through and digitize old family photos and home movies.
2. Make a recipe that conjures up flavors of your youth.
3. Volunteer at a place with families and kids.
4. Schedule a family ZOOM (or even a physical reunion) for the holidays or plan ahead to 2026.
5. If you’re lucky enough to have living grandparents (or even great-grandparents), gather some of their stories and wisdom. One day YOU may be the oldest living person in your family and people will ask you all kinds of random stuff about the past. I sometimes wish I had gathered more family tea because I am apparently now one of the last family matriarchs!

With love & light this holiday season,

Everyone’s Nana, NANCYAF