Athena Carpenter
My Great Grandmother
“ They can’ t tell me what to do; they can’ t keep me confined in this little space.
I am a boundless woman; as long as I can walk and have a mind of my own I will use it.
I am strong; I don’ t need anyone to help me stand
They can’ t stop me from living my life to the fullest; getting the most out of it.”
Athena Carpenter
My great grandmother is strong and a fighter,
She doesn’ t let anybody bring her down. She has Alzheimer’ s and slowly every time I visit her she remembers me less and less. Recently I visited her and I was a blur on her mind. She said,“ Are you his friend” when it was my father.“ Are you engaged” she had forgotten my age. Every time I told her five minutes later she would ask me again.“ Who are you?” Even though she had forgotten me she still remembered that she is her own. She owns her life and still has control over what she does. She’ s not at a point where she needs help; she’ s not disabled. I don’ t want to go through life without her truly knowing who I am.
It had been so long since I had seen her in her mind I was still a little girl, when I told her my age she just didn’ t believe me.
She is my blood and she has taught me you can’ t turn your back on family.
You must always make the time for family because there may come a time when they forget you or you lose them before you even get a chance to really know them.
Don’ t hold grudges; don’ t let trivial things break you apart from your family.“ Blood is thicker than water”. Remember that.