The Evolution of Grandma

When I was very young the Grandma ladies had grey buns, uncomfortable looking dresses and the most awful shoes I have ever seen to this day. They were black, laced up to the ankle and had about a two inch heel. Hopefully, I caught them when they were really dressed up and they didn't milk cows and churn butter in these get ups.

One of my Grandmothers lost the bun. Both dressed in what was known as "house dresses" with an apron and they looked so pretty when dressed up for church, weddings and funerals. One of them I can't remember in anything that looked uncomfortable,the other was plagued with every foot problem known to man from bunions to hammer toes, she started wearing "tennis shoes" way ahead of her time. She cut holes to relieve these miladies . Grandmother who had the bad feet lived the longest. Don't know if that made a difference.

When I speak of Grandmothers, I know that there are 40 year old women who have that title. I'm sure a half a century ago there were even more of these women and today would seem that they were decades older. I am speaking of the ladies 75 plus and the styles they chose.

It amazes me that that they still make rain bonnets. You know those plastic things that all old ladies put out when it rains to protect their hair? These horrible things have been used as long as I can remember. I do see the end of these as our current batch of "Grannies" go to their great reward.

I think that we are at the end of women going to the hair salon each week to have their hair washed and styled. Our next batch of regal women will still go to the salon to maintain a color they like, a cut they can manage and will wash their hair more than once a week.

Soon will be gone the days of pastel sweat suits with birds embroidered on the front. Reebok made a lot of money on the "Princess". The next "Granny" generation will demand something more fashionable. With the passing of this generation we may see the end of "Mom Jeans".

I am speaking from my own "Granny" experience. I know there were those out there who were far beyond their time. Kudos to those elegant dames.

Not a "Grandma" yet but I know it will be soon. One child is married, another an adult and the AARP vultures circle my home. I will be a card carrying "Blue Hair" within the next twenty years. When that day comes, God willing, I will still be a Blondie, my body will be as toned as it can be at 75. My underwear will be from Victoria's Secret. My everyday attire will be leggings and sweat shirts in the winter, shorts (depending on how grossed out I am because of my legs) and T-Shirts in the summer. My face will be wrinkled and saggy. At this point, can't conceive of unnecessary surgery. Stay tuned. I will wear the most comfortable shoes that I can buy to accommodate my own "Grandmothers" feet. And they will be stylish.

I will NEVER wear a plastic rain bonnet!