Saturdays with Seniors: Guest Post by Gretchen McCann

Gretchen and her granddaughter Adara.

I am pleased to introduce Gretchen McCann as our featured “Saturdays with Seniors” blogger today. New to Chicago, Gretchen joined the Thursday memoir class last summer and continues writing — and reading — essays while we meet via Zoom.

Born in New England, Gretchen was raised in California, graduated from Berkeley and met her husband, Skip, in Washington, D.C. during the heady days of LBJ’s Great Society program. They raised their family in Philadelphia, where she worked as a freelance editor and publicist for the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. When it came time to downsize, Gretchen and Skip found a home in Chicago around the corner from their son and his family. She says her toddler granddaughter,  Adara, “provides the joy in sheltering at home.”

Life’s Little Lessons

by Gretchen McCann

I couldn’t seem to get a handle on Beth’s “Lessons Learned” writing prompt this week. I’m sure I’ve had a lot, but most seem not worthy of 500 words (for example, learning to play the accordion, or not learning to speak Spanish). The remaining could consume an entire, if somewhat tedious, autobiography. So I redefined the topic to “Life’s Little Lessons.” Herewith a few:

• I have learned that few folks appreciate the contribution of an editor, even if they’re paying for it. They don’t understand the changes suggested and resent the tampering of their deathless prose.
• Eyeglasses are a toddler magnet and will not survive their attention.
• It took a few years, and not a few dead plants, but I now see the secret of a successful garden is to water.
• It is impossible for a lefty to learn to crochet from a righty.
• I absolutely should not wear pastels.
• It may be true that a watched pot will not boil, but if I turn my back it will surely boil over. Especially if it’s tomato sauce.
• Black marble is a terrible choice for a bathroom counter.
• I thought we couldn’t have too many books, but then we decided to downsize and move 900 miles.
• The things that scared me the most turned out to provide some of the best life experiences.
• One should definitely read the book before seeing the movie.
• I’ll never learn to play chess.
• A new container of cayenne is way hotter than the one I bought in 1995.
• The trouble with housework is that I’m supposed to do it all over again tomorrow.
• If you rescue a stray kitten, be prepared to never leave your food unguarded.
• When I need a laugh, I should try on hats.
• In parenting, just when you figure out what’s going on with a child, they move on to the next puzzling thing.
• I won’t always know why I walked into a room.
• I’ve accepted that my spouse is not a mind reader and I should tell him outright what I want for my birthday. Or skip that and just get it myself.
• Once they leave home, children have wayyyyy more to share when they initiate the call.
• A duck can be a surprisingly wonderful pet.
• I can call them age spots, but they’re really from too much sun.
• I now appreciate that beach vs. mountain is a real dichotomy. I might have paid better attention to this.
• It’s true. Mothers-in-law, especially grandmas, really really really have to keep their mouths shut.
• An accordion is not an adequate substitute for a piano.
• Knitting is a wonderful — and useful — pastime, but some otherwise steadfast friends will find it amusing. And say so. Especially after a few drinks.
• Watching the news is not good for my mental health, and by extension, my temperament. This has not always been true.
• COVID 19 has put me back in regular touch with people I love. Is it too much to hope that this truly scary time will offer other positive life experiences?