In 2004 my Dad and I went to visit his mother and celebrate her 103rd birthday. She had lived on her own until age 99, but had been in a nursing home since then. I hadn't seen her for several years and she didn't recognize me when I entered her room.

Her short term memory was completely shot. She could not lay down long term memories any longer. Which caused her to ask who I was about ever couple of minutes. But the long term memories she had were still there and Grandma had always had a sharp intelligence.

She was born in 1901 and had lived through one of the greatest centuries in human history. Even though she was a West Virginia born and raised farmer's daughter she had seen a lot of things. Her husband, my Grandpa, served in WWI (before they met). Three of her sons served in WWII. Two came back. The third oldest died in the Battle of Leyte Gulf when an aircraft carrier his ship was tied to blew up. (For those that have studied WWII, yes he was aboard the USS Birmingham when it was trying to save the Princeton.) My Dad was born in 1935 and was too young to serve, as was his sister.

She had numerous stories and anecdotes about about life and how things changed over the century. She also told me about my third uncle and grandpa both of whom died before I was born. She had 5 children, with my Dad being the youngest. However, I discovered from speaking with her there was a SIXTH baby in the time between my Aunt and Dad, but he was still born.

I now have some of those memories from her stories and the people in them are remembered.

She died about two months later.