You’ve followed the stories of these beautiful old ladies
for more than three years now. Vickie’s three grandmothers, two of whom are in
their 90s, are old beyond compare. The eldest formerly needed care from the
younger and now the younger are unable to care for themselves and the elder is
forced to move around the compound with a stick in care of the others. Just
watching them is extremely painful.
The formerly well manicured pineapple crops – with the best,
sweetest pineapple in the world – is overgrown. No fuzzy plant leaves decorate
the latrine container awaiting tender use. No water fills the barrel. Two
lovely island ladies came to wash for them and perhaps others appear from time
to time to care for these ladies, one formerly being a midwife, who probably
delivered them as they were born.
There are no old age homes in which to stuff them. Instead
they live peacefully and quietly…and somehow painfully…on their little island
content with the knowledge they will soon die there. Each time we visit, I pray
we are blessed with one more.
