It takes something special to start a new chapter in a new town at 94 years old. Ida Mae Hurt, my grandmother, did this with an open heart, a trust in family, and a sense of adventure. Ida, adorable and adored by many, spent the last five years of her life here in Santa Barbara. It was an opportunity born out of necessity, but it carried a serendipity that I now realize was a full-circle opportunity for our grandmother-granddaughter relationship. It was a rare opportunity to rediscover and re-enjoy what she nurtured more than 45 years ago.
When my two sisters and I were kids, Grandma Ida was youthful and energetic — a “young” grandma in her middle years who could keep right up with us. We spent many weekends and sometimes weeks at a time in the summer with her. She lived in the San Fernando Valley, and the Los Angeles area became our playground. It never felt like she was just taking care of us. She was enjoying us!
Visits with Grandma Ida were filled with a beautiful blend of new adventures and delightful rituals. We went to plays, museums, local fairs, and, especially memorably, Magic Mountain because she was just as excited as we were to ride the new roller coaster. “That was FUN!” we shouted in that shared exhilaration of a good roller coaster ride. Big smiles all around!