She did it her way.

She always did. 

While my children are disappointed she didn’t make it to 100 (shy just 3 months). She couldn’t and she wouldn’t because she needs to do it her way. And her way is not in a hospital bed.

My 99 year old (almost 100) grandmother’s health ONLY began to falter when she fell doing the electric slide-in mules with pantyhose. Yes. I just put that sentence together. A 99-year-old woman was doing the electric slide in high heeled mules with pantyhose. This was not strange. This was a weekly occurrence.  Every week she went line dancing with her younger boyfriend (90 years old). And when that boyfriend got too old to dance, NEXT!

She did things her way.

My grandmother was full of energy all the way through her late 90’s. Never wanting to sit. Always busy doing something from putting on shows with her senior chorus, to teaching random people she picked up along the way, English. She wasn’t one to call. She wasn’t one to ask how Jacob is. She was busy. It was all about her. What made her happy. 

She did it her way.

I’m not sure I would have been pleased to have her as a mother, as she showed very little interest in children, but I adored her. And in some ways, she was a role model on what living on your own terms looks like.  She was all her all the time. I’ve seen very few women like this in my life. While I’ve met many men who live life on their terms 24/7.

Maybe she was before her time. She did produce three incredible men. Who turned out to be three incredible husbands and fathers. I can speak personally to that. My father is the most generous and kind man you will ever meet.

She did it her way and her way turned out okay. More than okay.

And She did it her way…until she couldn’t.

 After the fall they did some tests and (you guessed it) cancer everywhere. When I visited her in hospice recently, she asked the time. I told her it was 1:30. “1:30?! Why are you here? So late?” was her response. When I explained to her that it was 1:30PM she was in greater shock. “What have I done all day?” When I told her she has been sleeping, she looked disgusted. A whole day wasted! She wanted to get up. 

She only knows how to do things her way.

And for her to lay a long death from cancer was not an option. She can’t live her life sleeping the days through. She has too much to do. She died 2 weeks later. 

She left explicit notes regarding her funeral and there it was. She wants “My way” by Frank Sinatra to be played.

So grandma, while you may have been selfish in some ways, your choice in song says it all. You are unapologetic, you are you.

And now the end is near

And so I face the final curtain

My friend, I’ll say it clear

I’ll state my case of which I’m certain

I’ve lived a life that’s full

I’ve traveled each and every highway

and more, much more than this

I did it my way

Funeral details:

Monday , Dec 30 at 2:45pm

Star of David Cemetery 

7701 Bailey Rd

North Lauderdale, Fl.