You watch her as she soldiers on clinging to her walking frame like it was a purse full of money. It is her lifeline.

Her wrinkled hands, her wrinkled eyes

She hangs on for grim death like there’s no tomorrow. “Slow and steady wins the race“, she says with a twinkle in her eye.

You smile. You pull your chair in to give her more room.

She takes her time. The word hurry is no longer in her dictionary. Instead she counts each step and smiles at you. Countless wrinkles converge into a broad smile that has known much laughter.

“Thank you”

Phrase or saying

• Soldier on – try to do something even if it is extremely difficult
• Hangs in for dear life like there is no tomorrow – (UK) hang on like your life depends on it. Here I have stated it like we would around here in Sydney. We add ‘like there is no tomorrow’ to emphasise the gravity of the saying.
• Slow and steady wins the race – (Greek about 560BCE so very old) Slowly