Aging With Grace” could be the motto for my mother and her friend, Mavis. Their anti aging formula of “Keep On Trucking,” has certainly worked for this pair of elderly women. Evelyn, my mom, is 88 years old and Mavis is 89 and, they’re still going strong.

Mom’s kept her youth by adhering to healthy eating practices, vitamins, (no drugs) and exercise. She walks at our local mall several times a week. You might say she believes in “healthy aging.”

(However…. even though she passed her drivers test a couple of months ago… her driving is a bit scary. “Who is that darn little white haired lady straining to see over the steering wheel… going 15 miles an hour?) Mom?

Mavis has some health problems…but that doesn’t keep this 89 year old woman from putting in time furthering her “career.” She still stands on her crippled and swollen feet… cuts, perms, colors, and sets hair for her friends…. for those… of course… who are not in rest homes or dead. (When they die… she provides her final service and magic touch at the mortuary… and it’s on the house!)

Mavis has been doing my mom’s hair for over sixty years. Mom started during the “dark ages” when a wash and set was $.50. Today was no exception. I drove Mom to her hair appointment for a cut, color and perm… and she paid a “dark age” price of $15.00 for her new dooo. Unheard of!

The fact we had to get Mavis out of bed because she had forgotten and… it took her one hour to dress and… she couldn’t find her hearing aid and… it took her 6 hours to cut and perm Mom’s hair… is perhaps…an indication she’s aging a bit.

If the truth be know… I believe Mom might be her only customer… as several gals just entered homes for the aging to live out their “twilight years.

Oh my gosh… the salon! I don’t believe the salon even begins to meet county or city standards for a home business… not by any stretch of imagination. Her mirror is covered with hundreds of photos of friends and family that must date back to the depression. And, I believe every small memento and gift she’s ever received, since she put out her shingle over 65 years ago, still adorns her workstation. Clutter… oh my gosh!

And… who am I to criticize? These two women can teach me a few things about “Aging With Grace.” They love, support and serve each other… Mavis still does a great job with Mom’s hair… and Mom is still willing to sit for 6 hours and listen to Mavis talk.

I’m not too far behind these aging women… I can only hope I do as well. And clutter… you should just check out my basement.

Till Later,

Kathy Griffiths
Insightful Nana

P.S. Would you believe it if I told you… Mavis has not a gray hair in her head. No dye… no rinse… and no lie? Now… if that’s not aging gracefully… I don’t know what is.

P.P.S. Now if we can just keep my mother from repeating the same story over and over again. “By the way… have I ever told you about….”