Living to 103, Has She Ever Been Truly Sick?

Aunt Vi never seemed to get sick, but she was quick to remind you of when she did, beginning with how she almost died before the age of five. (Never clear of what was wrong, involved coughing and not eating well. Not eating was a big deal back then, at least I don't hear much about it now. Not "thriving" they called in the late 1800s.)

Surely, this is part of the reason Aunt Vi found it so important to always have food prepared, and offer it to all around. She, much to my dismay, even brought into my mother's house not too long ago, a drifter, "Times are hard, Diane. people need to eat," and fed him. When Mom arrived home, there was a scruffy man in her house eating and talking with Aunt Vi.

Aunt Vi cooked and baked even when she could barely see (probably legally blind) and set their apt. on fire. While she promised me she would stop cooking and my cousin got them both on Meals on Wheels (that food was never prepared properly for Aunt Vi, of course), she continued to cook,"Just a little. Oh DIANE, you HAVE to when company is coming over!"

Aunt Vi also had a "nervous stomach," and Pepto Bismol was always at the ready. Usually she got upset over something to do with her companion, Ivah, or Ivah's mother. I wish Aunt Vi and Ivah could have had more time to live alone together, but for most of their lives SOMEONE lived with them. A religious mother would make for a "nervous stomach" indeed.

No broken bones, no hospitalizations, in fact sick people, or I should say people who "complained" of not feeling well, were frowned on by Aunt Vi. Though in her later years Ivah had terrible varicose veins in her legs. I know she must have suffered through much pain. But, with Aunt Vi, sickness was psychological and with Ivah it was in God's hands, neither woman had much to do with medical science.

Aunt Vi and Ivah were seldom apart, when I was little I thought aunvianiva, was one word. When they disagreed, it usually had something to do with Lane, Ivah's mother. Finally, when I was about ten, Aunt Vi got so mad that she moved to the small downstairs apartment. That was the beginning of the end. Lane got sick, from what I don't know, but back them "incontinence" was the end---one had to go to a nursing home, and that is where Lane spent her last year.

Aunt Vi moved back in with Ivah, but one day Ivah fell. I was standing in line in front of two medics when I heard the address of the house I grew up in/and next to all my life, called over their walkie talkies. They split and so did I. By the time I got there all that was left was a stain of blood on the steps out front. By process of elimination, I would find out it was Ivah.

Aunt Vi has a tale about all that happened after that (I had my own apt. upstairs in my mother's house at the time) and after moving from Ft. Wayne, Ivah died in a nursing home or hospital. But, according to Aunt Vi, Ivah was not cared for properly, undernourished, and she (Vi) was not allowed to see her as she wished, just family allowed.

A visit to Ivah's grave took place once a week, with Mom driving Aunt Vi, for years. Until one day during a phone call, Aunt Vi couldn't remember Ivah, I think didn't want to---too painful. None of us spoke Ivah's name again. That was over 25 years ago.

Still, Aunt Vi went on. Just a week ago, my cousin got a call from the nursing home that Aunt Vi was not well. My cousin discovered that Aunt Vi had a cough. The medicine she was given tasted so awful that Aunt Vi swore she was being poisoned. (My cousin agrees it was horrid tasting when mixed with water instead of food or juice.) Aunt Vi's cough got worse. A chest X-ray showed some fluid, but not too bad. A course of antibiotics did the trick. Within days the crisis was over. Aunt Vi was also "unruly" and cursing at the nursing home staff, which forced (FORCED) then to give her an antidepressant. (Without first contacting my cousin!! Who is none too happy about that and is a great advocate for Aunt Vi. This cousin is an angel. Aunt Vi has called her every foul name in the book, and recently threatened to call the police and have her arrested. For caring too much? Anyway, kind of funny coming from a woman who can't hear or see "worth a damn" (to quote Aunt Vi.)

So she now will be the second oldest person in the nursing home. First place goes to 104. A pizza party will be held and some Ft Wayne relatives will please her no end. Any suggestions on what gift I can give her?

"Diane, don't ever get this old." OK, Aunt Vi, I think that won't be an issue. (To which I answered that day: "Why don't you take your own advice?!") I miss our bantering.