IamA 90 Year old woman, living in a muli-story house all by myself AMA!

Thank you for your service.

She said thank you and that no one ever thanks her for that. Big smile.

This is great that she served as a nurse. She is an amazing woman! (I'm currently in nursing school) I hope to be able to live as long as your grandmother! :P Cheers to you both and thanks for the IAMA.

After she served. She worked in a nursing home and then as the middle school nurse. Lots of nursing!

hot old broad if you ask me.

laughter "Thats funny"

If you could speak to your 20 year old self now and give yourself one warning or words of advise what would you tell yourself?

"I would say to go back to school and get my degree in education. I liked that."

What was the most shocking event that you lived through.

"My husband fell off the roof from a ladder and cracked his skull open."

How did that end?

I'll field that. He died in the hospital. I was 2. I never got to know him. From what I understand he was a great man.

This was a confusing response if you didn't realize the grandson is answering.

Ive been putting her stuff in quotes to help. Sorry!

It makes sense if people read the commentary under the title :-)

I'm trying!

Your husband died when you were 2?

Grandson speaking. She's asleep! Her stuff is in quotes.

If you could relive any moment of your life, what would it be?

"My wedding day. We went to Niagara Falls. My Husband proposed to me while we were ice skating. He was lacing up my skates when he popped the question."

How long were you married for? Lacing up your skates to pop the question is adorable.

"Well it was kind of cute. laughter 1947 we were married. "

What historical event in your life time had the highest personal impact?

"The Great Depression. My parents lost their home, their business. My father was in the automobile business. We really had to do without our electrcity. We ate beans and spam. It was really tough. My mother had to go to work. My father didn't have any job. She worked for $12/day in a retail shop. Actually I think it was $12/week. I was only 10 years old, so I don't remember quite everything. My sister was 4 years old and didn't remember that much. My mother passed away during the depression. My sister had to go live with her aunt and uncle and I went to live with my other aunt."

Always love these kinds of AMAs- be sure to give your grandma a big hug as thanks from me for doing it! (Oh, and as someone else who has a 90 year old grandma living alone in a multi-story house, please make sure she's got secure hand rails everywhere- at that age you only need to slip once.)

Oh and since I should ask a question in case you come back to this- who was your favorite president? Least favorite?

"I have fallen before. The hospital wasn't used to 80 year old women entering and then leaving the hospital." She got stitches without a wince. She's a tough old bird. She has life alert.

My grandmother has life alert! I felt weird giving it to her as a gift, but she says it gives her a profound sense of security when my parents aren't around.

(She's 87. She lives with my parents and is still very spry and sharp as a tack, but accidents can still happen.)

She said she rolls over on it while she sleeps....she gets calls from them late at night...I found that mildly humorous.

Also. She said her favorite president was JFK. He was young and had new ideas. A good family and a good catholic. Didn't ask her least favorite...

Ok, can you ask her about her least favorite?

I'll ask at breakfast tomorrow!

"Nixon. I didn't like his attitude."

What was the best decade in your opinion? Could be because of what the world was like at the time or just because of what was going on in your life

"1970s. All of my children were out of the house and starting their own lives. It was like taking a deep breath of fresh air."

In your opinion, which invention or discovery has been the most impressive in your life time?

"The television. It wasn't in every room and was only in black and white. I'm still a radio person because I can't stand all of the ads. They drive me crazy."

This AMA really puts a smile on my lips. Hearing elder people talk about their lives is always interesting because they lived through so much more than I (16) did.

I don't really have a question, so, uh, what's your favorite candy bar?

"Milky Way. That was easy!"

You have lived an amazing life and seem like an amazing woman! What life advice do you have for a young woman just starting life and going to college?

"Be sure to finish! There's so much partying...Make sure you study hard."

How have your feelings towards death and dying changed as you've gotten older?

"Well...umm...uhhh...It's ultimate. It's going to be. We're born and we're going to die. You have to live on and you're going to die. Older people you can accept, but when you read about young people dying that's sad. I worked in a nursing home. I never liked working on pediatrics. I would go in a beautiful sunny afternoon and see all those babies tied down getting intravenouses, crying and seeing their mother's and father's miserable. I couldn't take that. The old people, it's better to get it over with, but the young people...no."

Wow, you don't look a day over 70! Grandson, please give grandma a hug, I sure miss mine!

Hug delivered.

Would you like your loving grandson to move in and give you some company?

I laughed..."It would be tough on him because I couldn't do your wash or cook." She says I could live in but I'd be on my own....haha

Any advice ?

"Enjoy each day and do you what you want to, because life is short. Stern look I mean that."

Favourite type of cheese?

"I don't like cheese."

I work in a nursing home for people with the Alzheimer disease, have you ever "lost" friends to this? As in they didn´t remembered you?

My daughter's mother in law had it. It was very sad. She was out of it...she would get into the bathtub with her watch on. I never visit some of the people I know...because its tiring and they don't know who I am anymore."

I remember once talking with my grandmother about how gay people where treated when she was young, and the stigmas back then compared to the level of acceptance today. I guess this is one of the big social changes during your lifespan.

The way it came up was that we were visiting here at a home in her little town in the mountains and I commented on an old lady with a really bad posture, and my grandmother told me the lady had always walked like that, with a slightly crouched back - because she didn't want her breasts to show, she wished she was a man. I found it quite sad.

Do you remember how you felt about stuff like this, and has it changed? Do you remember anything about how gay people were treated when you were young?

I'm not gay myself, and noone in my family is (at least that I know of), I just find it interesting.

"I didn't think anything of them. They worked in the army. Do your job. I still dont think any differently of them. They are people. If that makes you happy fine. That's your life. I think everyone needs a father. That's just me. That's my belief."

Hello from Scotland! What a lovely AMA.

Have you ever been to Scotland, and where is somewhere you haven't travelled to yet but would love to?

Oh, and happy thanks giving from across the pond!

She is busy! She had never been to Ireland until about a decade ago. My family took her out there to visit her family's home town. She loved it. Sorry for intervening!

Tell her I said hello from Ireland!

Our family is from county mayo!

WESTSIDE representin'.

Where in mayo?

We dont know the actual town...sorry. All over the county.

Firstly, I want to say keep on going with your independent life-style. I have relatives into their 90s, and they're quite happily living the independent lifestyle.

Is there a specific event or reason tying you to your house? Have you had well-meaning relatives or carers try to move you into a smaller / single-story residence?

"Yea, there is a particular reason. I like it this way. I don't have the ambition to move! To tell you the truth. It's very lengthy and move to a condo, I would be in the same financial situation I am now. I'd be even steven!"

"No, not really. We've talked about it, but no."

"I have lots of friends around me and they're very helpful to me. So why should I move? They take my garbage to the dump, do my groceries, so why would I move?"

What decade did you think had the most movement, music wise?

"It wasn't the 90s or 80s. laughter We can eliminate that. I liked the 40s and 50s. I watched the Macy's day parade today and I wonder what Fred Astaire would say today if he saw that dancing. Glen miller and Tommy Dorsey were my favorite. I liked Motown too."

She would like it to be known she also enjoys country music.

What event or bit of nostalgia do people today make a big deal of that, because you lived through it, wonder what the fuss is about?

For example, was the Great Depression as bad as people today think it is?

"I remember Pearl Harbor, like I remember Kennedy, but I was in training in 1941 and we heard it on the radio that FDR announced the bombing on the radio. We didn't realize what a big deal it was. We heard it on the radio, but we didn't realize that all of friends were all going to war. It wasn't a big deal until we started seeing people getting in line for gas and for food and the next couple of months. Everyone was going in the service. You didn't join. You were drafted. Then it became a big deal. Kids were just getting out of highschool and being drafted. The only ones who didn't go were those who could prove a disability. I oculdn't get into the Navy because of my weight. I had to be over 100 pounds. Some guys couldn't get into the service because of their eyes."

"That's when you saw those pictures of Rosey the Riveter because all those guys disappeared and all of these jobs were vacant. And now when I see these young girls going into the service and leaving their family behind, money?"

How did you imagine the future when you were younger? Regarding society, technology, etc... is there anything in the world right now that you never saw coming?

"I didn't have time to think about it. I worked two jobs while raising a family."

What is the best thing you have done for someone in your life?

"The best thing I ever did in my life was bring up my family."

"That was fortunate because I had everyone around me. The depression separated my family, and that was hard. If god let me live long enough with a mother and father and everyone together. I would be very thankful. And he did."

Do you drink or smoke?

"I did drink. I drank up until I retried from work. I never smoked, I mean I smoked a couple of whiffs...but..." "My drink was a Canadian Club on the rocks."

How many Grandchildren do you have? And what is your best memory of them?

"7. I went too coopers town with my oldest grand child. He said he didn't understand any of it because he was too young We took him to FAO Schwartz."

Just so you know, she's probably referring to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

Oh she was. Sorry. My grandfather...her husband...took my cousin around. We are big baseball people. To me cooperstown is baseball and....maybe ommengang

mmm...Ommegang.

3 Philosophers is my jam.

Oh, nice. I wasn't sure because I think you got autocorrected to splitting it into two words.

Aye aye sir.

Any major challenges to living alone?

"Everything is painful. I have no cartelidge*."

Wow. That must be some intense pain. Sorry to hear you're having to live with that.

One time I came up to visit her. She asked if I wanted breakfast as it was before noon. I said no thank you. She gets me cereal regardless. She goes to open the oven....underneath the counter. At this point, I think she's lost it completely. "Nana, why are the Cheerios in the oven?"...her response,"That's the only place I can reach them." I was happy she wasn't senile, then sad her body limits her lifestyle.

Grandma drives??

"I didn't learn how to drive until 1955. I do drive. It's tough. I drive locally, never on a highway, never in the evening. I go to the salon and grocery store. I have a lot of good friends that help me if I can't drive."

What do you think of google's self-driving cars (or idea of self-driving cars in general)

"I don't know. I haven't gotten that far. I hear about them, but it'll be a long time before. If they'd be better than some people drive cars then I suppose it would be better! I'll be long gone by the time that comes around."

I love this AMA. If you and your grandma are still around, my question is: Could you tell me about a day in your memory that stands out to you as being the most beautiful in your life?

I think we're all done. Its late and she is very tired. I'm sorry!

Thank you so much for this AMA. Her life is so interesting. I just love reading her answers. You are a fantastic Grandson !!

Trying to convince her to write a book!

You talk to her like this, ask questions, let her talk. Let her tell the stories she wants to tell, too. There's your book.

Edit: eek, I forgot to add to record her. That's the secret. So many digital devices that would do the trick.

We need a better writer...or at the least a stenographer.

How are your knees?

"They're okay! Shoulders are bad."

My 85 year old mom is reading this with me, her knees would keep her from going from floor to floor, so good you!

Do you have any advice for an otherwise healthy 85 year old?

"I don't. That's very tough. I'm sorry!"

What's your favorite video game?

"I don't play videos. I watched you [me] playing them long enough that I don't play them."

What's the best book that you've ever read?

"I love biographies. I read a lot of maeve binchy. She's dead though."

What was your favorite memory from childhood?

"I used to love to go to my grandmother's house. They were very musical and would all tap dance and sing."

She added more later. Apparently her uncles played in a band and would clear the living room floor. Her aunt danced on stage for work and would take her dancing. In her words "that was happy."

Hey There! Do you feel, as someone using a relatively new website, that the elderly can easily adapt to new technology thats supposedly ahead of their time?

Sorry! Her grandson (iampossiblyatwork) is typing all of this! "I worry that all this technology is taking away the memory of children. They were talking about the Gettysburg Addresss and this anchor guy walked into a school and they didn't know what it was. They don't use their memory any more because everyone has the computers. I think computers are great for certain aspects, but you need to keep a sharp head. Sometimes, I've gone to the grocery store and gone up to the register and the girl at the register says use the charge card because she doesn't want to count on the change and it's easier for her. I'm a little timid about checking out at the self check outs. I haven't done it yet. I might try it if there's no one behind me."

I've gone to the grocery store and gone up to the register and the girl at the register says use the charge card because she doesn't want to count on the change and it's easier for her.

Unless you are giving her $100 for a pack of gum, she is lazy

Would not put it past my grandmother....honestly

What would you have done differently?

"I had have to go over everything. Inch by inch. That's a difficult one." I"ve overwhelmed her! We'll take a break!

Way late here, but I hope you see this. Thanks for convincing your grandma to do this. I am thinking you have a very special relationship with her to convince her. I hope you treasure her, such an interesting AMA - one of only two AMAs where I read all of her (and your) responses.

Love her and care for her and make sure she understands how many smiles she put on people's faces today!

I will do my best to make sure she reads this :)

Do you think that people today would be able to cope with the hardships that were happening during the depression?

"I think people today are going through it still. Those kids in Haiti...ugh.. I feel awful. All that money that goes there. I'm sure it doesn't all reach them."

Have you been living in Fairfield County for the majority/entirety of your life? What has been the biggest change in the area over time if so?

She's done so I'm answering easy ones. She's lived in the same house in darien for several decades...she got kicked out of her old house because they needed to build the turnpike.

Not to be a downer but are you ever worried that you will pass and nobody will find you for awhile?

"No. I don't worry about that all! That's not the least of my worries! I'm ready! I've done it all, I've seen it all!"

I don't think she understood the question. :\

She did. She honestly doesn't care.

Her gym teacher was a pirate! Jealous. :(

Basketball definition. Haha

How did you discover Reddit.

Her grandson ;)

Thanks so much for this AMA. One of my favorite AMAs of all time. I just lost my grandma earlier this year. Please hug yours for me.

Will hug her more tomorrow... If I respond to all of the hugging requests....I might start to worry her...haha

My grandmother lost her husband and sometimes I wish I could do more for her. More than just keeping her company. Is there anything? Is just sitting and keeping company enough?

I was too young to recall...but my dad tells me that when we visit. Its just the best.

Again. From the grandson. She is asleep....but my phone is lighting up...

what was your favourite drink when you were young?

"Canadian club on the rocks."

I was going to ask how you found Reddit, but then I saw that your grandson is doing the typing so I guess that's how. :)

Grandson reporting in...I dont know how to not reddit...

I too was born in Stamford, CT. What do you think of the area.

She's lived in the area for decades....so...she doesn't hate it! From the grandson...

Walter Kennedy the pirate was her gym teacher (I Googled it). That's fucking cool.

Next one down bro

do you have any really old jewelry that didnt cost much at the time but is now worth alot? if so what did it cost then and how much is it worth now

"I don't have anything that costs that much."

As of right now, what is the most amazing invention you've seen in your lifetime?

This question was answered. Ctrl f television

What do you think of the internet and websites like Reddit?

She doesnt have a computer. Grandson....is Iampossiblyatwork

Have you been to Stamford since you moved ? I was born there albeit it was only 20ish years ago but I barely recognize some parts now.

We just ate dinner there at capitol grill. Hahaha

What was it like having a pirate as a gym teacher?

Try the other one.. Haha

At 90 do you still masturbate?

How offensive to ask this question via a grandson about his grandma - have some respect!

Thanks man.