May 26, 1986
12:30 PM PST

Marty rather loved the feel of the warm wind on his bare arms - as he was eating two chopped chicken sandwiches, complete with mayonnaise. He quite enjoyed the sound of the birds chirping, and the freshly cut grass simply smelled delicious. It really was a peaceful feeling. For the time being, he simply wasn't struggling with his own identity.

"Hey, Marty," called out a grandmotherly voice. As Marty turned around, he saw that it was his Grandma Stella. She actually smelled fresh, as she was wearing some of her favourite "It's a beautiful day, isn't it? Anyway, honey, would you like to come over?"

"Oh, Grandma Stella, you bet," gushed Marty, as he threw his arms around her. With a sudden jolt, Marty Jr was alert - as he sure realized how was only a baby, when his great-grandmother died. It just felt so surreal, as he felt a sudden closeness to her.

"Well, let's go!" called out Grandma Stella, as she and Marty headed to her car. "I felt that, on this special day, you and I should get together. It's sure hard to believe that you're almost eighteen. I can still remember the time I held you, a few days after you were born. Heck, I can still remember the time that your mother was your age."

"Time really does fly, I guess," suggested Marty, as he stepped into the car. "It must feel a little strange, thinking of how much has advanced. I'm rather grateful, though, that our world didn't turn out to be anything like George Orwell's dystopian world."

"Oh, I really remember when that book came out," Grandma Stella replied, smiling. "At that time, 1984 seemed to be so far away. Yeah, much has changed. While I'm happy for you... as well as your band... Well, loud rock music simply just isn't my cup o' tea."

"I can understand that, Grandma Stella," Marty replied, softly. "I wouldn't expect you to enjoy our music... or even pretend that you do. In fact, some of the time, I'm sure a little shocked by just how much my parents love it. After all, you came from an era - where singers like Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra simply defined the popular music."

"Actually, even they're both from a little after the days of my youth," explained Grandma Stella. "Jazz was just in its heyday, when I was a teen. Goodness, I'm sure starting to feel very old. At any rate, should we make some more no-make cookies?"

"Yeah, that'd be awesome," agreed Marty. "It's a little too hot for baking, after all. It almost seems like summer, in fact. It's very hard to believe that this summer will be... I'm about to turn eighteen, which means that I'm almost an adult. I feel scared, in..."

"Really?" Grandma Stella asked, stunned. "I can remember how, back when you were a little boy, you couldn't wait to turn eighteen. I remember how anxious you were, to grow up. Well, I guess it could be a rather scary step. You do have Jennifer, though. She's such a sweet girl. Every Tuesday, I play Bingo with her grandma - and I just..."

"That's cool!" exclaimed Marty. "Yeah, she's also rather close to her grandma. Both of them, in fact. Sometimes, I sure do wish that I had a chance to meet Grandma Sylvia. Not that I don't like spending time with you, of course! I just mean that... Well, I..."

"I understood what you meant," Grandma Stella replied, softly. "Eleanor Parker is just a great woman to be around. She's said a lot of nice things about her granddaughter, as well as you. I was also quite fond of Sylvia. She sure made some mean fruit soup."

"My mom makes it, some of the time," explained Marty. That statement simply applied to both Lorraine and Jennifer. "I just think it's a great idea, passing on the tradition. I guess some people would be put off by the idea. That stuff tastes great, though. It's something that should be saved for special occasions, though. Otherwise, it could..."

"Yeah, I simply see what you mean," Grandma Stella replied, softly. "I remember how my children used to get quite sick of meatloaf. The thing is, I sure always enjoyed my mother's meatloaf recipes. I think I was just a bit too eager to... to pass the joy on."

"I'm sure that your mother was a great person," Marty commented, softly. "I bet you and Doris had a lot of great times, as you were growing up. Say, what just made you and Grandpa Sam decide to move to Hill Valley? I know that you grew up in Missouri."

"Well, it was mainly my hubby's idea," explained Grandma Stella. "You see, he wanted to live in California. He didn't want to live in the southern part of the state, though. It was a... Well, when we decided to go house shopping... We sure needed a house big enough, for our entire family. We always planned on having a real large family, so..."

"You really have a beautiful house," Marty commented, as Grandma Stella turned into the driveway. Marty Jr began to feel a little sad, as he knew that the house would be torn down. "It can imagine that it was a very peaceful neighbourhood, back then."

"Oh, Marty, it sure was," Grandma Stella replied, dreamily. As the two stepped out of the car, she added, "I have so many fond memories of this house. I quite miss having my late hubby around. There is a lot of room, though, for hosting family gathering."

"Yeah, that definitely is true," Marty agreed, as he stepped into the house. It had all scents that were usually associated with a grandmother's house. Grandma Stella had plenty of spices in the house. Marty Sr thought about all the good times that he had, inside the house. Marty Jr, on the other hand, actually began to feel a little envious.

"Let's go make the same recipe," Grandma Stella suggested, "that we did, two months ago. It's really one of my new favourites, and I can remember how much you enjoyed them." Marty smiled, as he helped gather the ingredients. "This'll sure be a lot of fun."

oooooooooo

Marty smiled, as he and Grandma Stella were looking through some old family photos. Each photo brought back fond memories, even though there also were a few that did embarrass him. There sure was one major problem, though. All of them were pictures of young Marty Sr. None of them were things that Marty Jr ever really did.

"You were just so cute," Grandma Stella gushed, as she began to run her finger along the dimple in Marty's left cheek. "Of course, you still really are. Well, how do you like those cookies? I'm so glad that I was able to find this recipe. They are delicious."

"These are rather good cookies," commented Marty, admiringly. "I know some people think that I'm weird, because I still enjoy making cookies with you. I sure couldn't less what they think, though. Grandma Stella, you really are a fun person to be around."

"Well, Marty, I'm so happy that you were able to come over," Grandma Stella replied, cheerfully. "I simply enjoy spending time with all of my grandchildren. I can remember when you were a wee little boy. You really were a bit of a rambunctious one, but you were also very sweet. I do wonder if I'll live to see any of my great-grandchildren."

"Yeah, that would be cool," agreed Marty, excitedly. "After all, it so nice to spend the holidays with you - and it'd be awesome, if..." Suddenly, tears came to Marty's eyes - as Jr began to realize that it wouldn't come to happen. "Well, actually, I think that..."

"Aw, sweetheart," gasped Grandma Stella, as she glanced at Marty. "Are those tears in your eyes?" Drawing Marty close to her, she added, "I don't like seeing you so sad. What's troubling you, honey? Was it something that I said? I really didn't mean to..."

"Oh, Grandma Stella, I just can't...." Marty choked out. He couldn't take it, anymore - as he began to cry. Marty Jr realized that his great-grandmother would hardly have a chance to know him. Upon realizing that, Marty Sr also felt sad. "It just makes me feel sad, know that... I can't stand the idea of you dying. I know that it happens to all..."

"Aw, poor Marty," murmured Grandma Stella, as she patted Marty's back. "I just don't know what to say. We last went over this, two months ago. On one hand, I feel quite pleased by how much you love me. Still, I'm in real good health. I'm sure that I'll be..."

"I just feel..." Marty started to say, but he was sobbing too hard. He couldn't explain to Grandma Stella what exactly happened. He did have a real vague memory of what happened, two months ago. He couldn't quite seem to remember the details, though.

"Just try to cheer up, honey," suggested Grandma Stella, comfortingly. "I understand how much you really love me, and... Well, I sure love you, too. We're all going to die, some day. It's just an inevitable part of life. For now, though, I think it'd be very best to... It's important to live life, one day at the time. Try not to fret about the future."

"I sure guess you're right, Grandma Stella," Marty replied, as he lifted his tear-stained face. Grandma Stella handed him a tissue, which he used for wiping his eyes. "I simply do love you, though. Well, I guess we should actually make this be a wonderful day."

"I'd simply like for you to understand one other thing, honey," Grandma Stella added, softly. "When it really comes time for to meet my maker, I'll still be able to watch over you - as well as your children, and your children's children. I won't actually be gone."

"Well, uh, yeah," Marty replied, nervously. While Marty Jr simply understood what his great-grandmother meant, it didn't completely cheer him. He wouldn't be able to have those physical moments with Grandma Stella, as his father did. "How would you like to take a little walk? It's really a nice day, and I sure think we could use a little fresh air."

"That sure sounds like a splendid idea, Marty!" gushed Grandma Stella, as she hugged her grandson. "Or, as your generation would say it, awesome. There's quite no sense in wasting the day, indoors." Marty smiled, as she added, "Well, let's enjoy the day."