Grandma and Grandpa Kline

We finished early yesterday so I was on my way to see Grandma and Grandpa Kline by 9:30 a.m. I had to stop several times to take phone calls so I got there about 11 a.m. We spent a lot of time talking and I showed them the farm on Google maps so they could see what I was talking about when I described it to them.


Grandma is doing very well even thought the doctors say she has a slight heart murmur. Grandpa is doing okay I suppose although he looks like he is loosing muscle mass pretty quickly. They are driving to Indiana next week to attend a series of conferences they go to every year. The conference is sponsored by the Church of God – mostly the Black Evangelical arm of the ministries. My parents have become a patriarch of the ministries and will be missed when they are no longer able to travel.

They are talking about going to visit “elderly” friends in central Florida late in the summer. Raymond and Elnamay Hastings are both heading toward their ninety fourth birthday. I remember the Hastings when they traveled with us in our month long drive through Central America. At that time they were retired missionaries who had established numerous works in central Mexico. All my memories of them are humorous and pleasant.

We shared hotel rooms with them when we were between mission stations or missionary homes. I remember on the first night that Bro. Hastings lay on the bed with his arms crossed behind his head and Sister Hastings snuggled against him practically laying her head in his arm pit. She sweetly explained, “This is how I always go to sleep.” I was thoroughly disgusted. I have since changed my mind on that.

I took Grandma and Grandpa out to lunch, which was their dinner, about 3 p.m. We went to a Mexican restaurant that they know well and the waiter did not even need to write down their order. It is nearly the same every time they come. The last time I visited with them I took them out to breakfast and the waitress brought out their orders as she brought the coffee, then asked me for my selection. So much for variety being the spice of life.

The problem is that I can see Mama and I doing the same thing – especially if we move to Bowie where the selection of restaurants is limited. We are thirty plus years behind them but I know that when we go to a familiar eatery, though Mama may take a long time to study the menu, there is little variation in her selection. If the menus are limited in our later years, our choices may be fairly set also. We can just wave and say “the usual” to whoever may welcome us. I could actually be good.

The bottom line is Grandma and Grandpa are getting along well doing what they are doing. Mentally and spiritually they are in great shape, physically their years are beginning to tattle on them. It was a fun visit.

I am not sure how much longer my dad will be with us – neither is my mom. I am happy to be closer right now.