Ann Turner, 1911-2004

I’ve been very busy at work the past few weeks, running a technical support and technical sales department. I’m on the phone constantly. Since the holidays are around the corner, I stepped up and organized a holiday dinner for the company.

It was in the midst of all this chaos that I snuck away from my desk and made a phone call. My 93-year-old grandmother was in the hospital with a broken leg and my dad suggested we give her a call.

I called Wednesday afternoon around 2 PM. My Aunt Nancy jovially answered the phone. From the sound of her voice, it sounded like a party was going on. We chatted a moment and then she handed the phone over to Grandma.

“So, the new career as a stuntwoman isn’t working out, huh,” I said.

“What’s that?” she answered. I caught her off guard.

“You know, jumping off of houses and stuff. I told you it wasn’t a good idea,” I teased. She chuckled.

She had fallen in the kitchen a few days ago, had just had a pin put in her leg, and already she had done a bit of walking on it. I told her I was impressed.

I asked how she was holding up.

“Oh, doing okay for 93.” And she was. She sounded great.

“So tell me about your routine there.”

“Well,” she began. “I sleep in the morning until they wake me up. I eat breakfast and then sleep until lunchtime, when they wake me up. I eat and sleep again. It’s the life of Riley.” It was good to hear she still had her sense of humor.

I asked about the rehab she was facing. “Oh, I don’t know anything about that. You’ll have to ask Nancy or someone.”

Good, I thought. In this case at least, ignorance is definitely bliss. Rehab for a broken leg is no picnic. It is daunting for everyone, not just thouse of us lucky enough to be 93.

I wished her a speedy recovery and let her know we were thinking about her. She said to say hello to my family. After exchanging “I love yous,” I hung up. The timer on my phone read five minutes.

It was the first time I could ever remember her being in the hospital. It was also her last. This incredibly strong and loved woman checked herself out, passing away peacefully in the night.

Good for her, I thought as my mom broke the news to me this morning.

Half of Florida will likely be at her funeral on Sunday. We’ll be there, too, paying respects to a wonderful woman.

Thanks for everything, Grandma. We love you and miss you.