Sundays with the Yentas

Since I live in the same city as my mother and grandmother, from time to time we do things together. Typicaly, it is an organized event. I would never subject myself to say, shopping or hair appointments with them. Too much unsolicitated advice and torture. About a month ago, we attended the meeting of a local women's group and I should have learned my listen. There were quite a few woman there of Mama Ruth's age and since she's been kicking around Charleston for some time now, she knows everyone, their deal, their story, where they live. Here's an example, when an acquaintance of hers took a nasty spill on the stairs of their home, the only questions she could ask was, "what was she doing upstairs? Her master is on the first floor?" And this is an acquaintance? Anyway, on the way home in the car, Mama Ruth, riding shotgun, asks if when women her age have a "friend", do they sleep toegther? Um, excuse me, what? Then my mother yells from the back seat, "Ma, you're their age, what would you do?" Ok, so at this point, I want to drive the car off the road into an embankment. But, alas, I soldier on. Last Sunday, we attended a women's health lecture. This is the one where my 91 year old granmother stands up and ask this questions. "I can't walk since I get very tired. Is it OK that I ride the stationary bike every day?" Um, that's more exercise than people a third your age do (myslef incldued). Needless to say, the lecturer was amazed at this question. She also expressed shock when she learned that you shouldn't eat ice cream - apparently, she had always believed it's good for your heart. So, as you can see Sundays with The Yentas never disappoint. Next week, we are going for deli.