She Made It

She made it to 90.

There was war, when she was little. She told me they were nice to her, those that came. They had families too, and they just wanted to go home.

She told me about my great grandfather. He was clever, and he invented things.

She told me about my grandfather too. I don’t remember how she met him, my namesake, but they made a home and had a family together. Five of them; and suddenly they were seven in that house. My father was almost the eldest, and like me, they named him too was after his grandfather.

She taught, all her life. Even long after she finished working, when I knew her, she never stopped teaching. She loved to teach things, and we all loved learning.

She lost him far too early, my grandfather. I wish I could have met him. She was alone after that, for forty years, but that never stopped her. She had her family, and it grew.

She did the most incredible things. She moved halfway around the world, a grown woman, all alone, just to teach. And she did it twice. She saw the most amazing places, told the most wonderful stories.

She inspired us all. She taught us to wonder, to be curious about the world, and to follow our dreams. Most of all, she taught us to live. That’s what she did best.

She made it to 90, after all.