“My sister said, ‘You’ve got to talk to Mom; she’s not moving,’ ” Mr. Robinson recalled. He said his mother was utterly unswayed by Mrs. Obama’s description of the exciting new life they would all lead in Washington.

Mrs. Robinson, a retired bank secretary who ran the 50- and 100-yard dashes in the Illinois senior games well into her 60s, has always prized her independence.

“She doesn’t want grand; she doesn’t want great,” Mr. Robinson said. “She would much rather stay home.”

I live with my mother- and grandmother-in-law half the year and I have to admit, I enjoy it.  It’s like having company, the nice kind of company, in the house all the time.  We all have our rooms we can retire to if the company is staying too long or it’s just time for a break.  But otherwise, it’s lovely to come home to people curious about my day or who have just whipped up a tasty batch of kale salad.  (It’s actually better than it sounds.  Recipe to come.)

Of course, Jaime’s mom and grandmother are rather singular in their beings.  I’m very lucky in my in-laws.  Did you ever read the wonderful book series by Armistead Maupin, Tales of the City?  Jaime’s mom Marybeth is a lot like Mrs. Madrigal, except minus the “used to be a man” part.  And Jaime’s Gram is a more elderly version.