At the beginning of the summer, after spending several years blogging about the challenges that I faced during my wife’s struggle with Alzheimer’s and ultimately her death, I announced that on September 6, 2026, I would be expanding my focus to “Aging Gracefully.” As that date drew near, unwilling to present a mere academic discourse to my readers, I searched for a real-life portrayal of that ideal. Then, much to my delight, Mark Whitmire posted a spontaneous, heartwarming reaction to finding his grandfather’s 100-year-old marbles! Written without editing in a matter of minutes, he presents an unforgettable introduction to what I will be discussing in the coming months.
The following is an excerpt from Mark’s post, you can see the full post here on LinkedIn…
A bit of cleaning/straightening in my office today. Came across my grandfather’s marbles. Uncertain how they were made. He would be 110 years old this year if he was still with us! So perhaps these marbles are 100 years old! And my grandfather was sharp up until the day of his death.
I had the privilege of taking him to work with me one day a week…a bit of a break for him. My grandmother had Alzheimer’s the last 5 years of her life. Being the good grandson, I drove my grandparents to my grandmother’s sister’s house for lunch thinking that would be a good thing…never knowing when a visit would be the last. The drive was from Loganville to Canton. Every few minutes my grandmother would ask “Where are we going? When is this bus going to stop? Do you know where you’re going?” “We’re headed to see your sister.” A couple of minutes…same question. My grandfather told her she needed to be careful, or Mark might not visit anymore. My trip was well intentioned…but perhaps not the greatest thing for my confused grandmother! From the moment we got there, she said we need to go…she had to do laundry for the baby!
I also remember the family vacations riding in the back of the Cadillac…my grandmother sitting between my sister and me…keeping us from fighting…though I remember it as my older sister picking on me! Grandmother was always patient.
Granddaddy was as steady as a rock. Taking him to work with me…whether I had meetings, closings, or some office work…he was glad to spend the time with me…and me with him. I’d pepper him with questions about life. “Granddaddy, what would you do differently?” Some of the answers… “If I knew I was going to live this long, I’d take better care of myself! I would have saved more money (he never ran out). I would have left the mill sooner. (He worked at Walton Mills for 30+ years).”
What he did and demonstrated for me…
- He prayed for his family.
- He paid cash.
- He was slow to anger.
- He was always willing to lend a helping hand.
- He was kind.
- He was a dry wit.
Our rides and visits were priceless. When he passed unexpectedly after falling, breaking his hip, and a subsequent surgery…I had no regrets. I had him with me one day during the week. I visited him on Saturday mornings. I knew he was ready to go.
His last visit to see grandmother…she had fallen and broken her pelvis and spent the last few months in a nursing home. She frequently would ask if that was JC (her husband). But on that last visit, he asked her, “Do You Love Me?”. She acted a bit like it was a silly question…her answer was… “I Love You Very Much”.
I was fortunate to have all four of my grandparents and a great grandmother. My son was able to enjoy his four grandparents as well, though the two grandfathers have since passed.
No particular reason for this post…just reminiscing and thankful for the little reminders like these marbles
Ron Harvard Ministries 