Remembering My Grandparents
My grandparents played a very large part in my life from a very early age. With my older brother being sick with a rare kidney disease that caused him to be in and out of Riley Children’s Hospital frequently, I stayed with my grandparents quite often.
Some of my earliest memories were those of my grandma letting me drink coffee in the mornings with she and my grandpa. That cup, although an icky brown and pure plastic is one of my most valuable possessions today.
My grandmother taught me so many things while growing up - from sewing to cooking, there’s a touch of her in everything I do to this very day.
To me, my grandma was the worlds most beautiful woman, even when her hair went silver, it was the most beautiful silver I’d ever seen. I always wanted to be so much like my grandma, everyone seemed to like her and she ran into people she knew everywhere she went. I used to think she knew everyone in the world. It was possible, because she was the world to me.
When I found out I was having twins, my grandma and grandpa were the first ones I told - even before the boys father. You see, my grandma had a set of twins too so I knew she would be the most pleased at the news I had to share.
Occasionally I will cross paths with a woman who wears my grandma’s favorite cologne, Jovan Musk and be reminded of the security and love that sent brought with it when I was so little.
It’s been two years since my grandma passed away and there’s not a day that passes I don’t think about her. Whether it’s being reminded of the little tokens she gave me to surround myself with, cooking up something she used to make or gazing at my favorite picture of she and my grandpa when they were newlyweds - my grandma is with me, in some way, every single day.
I was fortunate to get to spend so much time with my grandparents while having the misfortune of having a sibling so ill. Not everyone get’s the chance to know their family quite the way I did and for that I will always be eternally grateful.
One of the greatest gifts my grandma gave me was my faith in God and the memories of old fashioned, Southern Baptist tent revivals with classic hymns unlike anything you hear these days. In fact, I still have the fan grandma got at one of those revivals. Sometimes when I need her most, I pick it up and fan my face just to feel her near.
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10 opinions for Remembering My Grandparents
Michelle S
Sep 9, 2008 at 2:21 am
That was beautiful, Gayla. Thank you for sharing your lovely memories.
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Sep 9, 2008 at 8:38 am
What a beautiful story. I have one of my own.
As my father was a holocaust survivor he had no living parents and my mother was orphaned at a young age from her mother. The only grandparent I had was my grandfather on my mothers side. I had not seen him for almost 20 years when I decided to visit him in far off Argentina about 20 years ago.
He was in a old age home there and had no clue that I was to arrive. He was extremely surprised and overwhelmed with joy. He said that though he had suffered hardship in his life this was his happiest moment. It truly was and will be one of the highlights of my life that special meeting with my grandfather.
When I left him I peered One last time thru the window of his residence knowing it would be the last time I saw him. It was as he passed away 2 weeks later. Its as if he had waited for me to see him and then felt he could go happy and contented.
David Waldman
b5media - Lifestyles Channel Pays Tribute to Grandparents
Sep 9, 2008 at 12:18 pm
[…] at MomGadget, I remember the influence and memories with my grandparents that help mold the person I am […]
The Lifestyles channel celebrates Grandparents
Sep 9, 2008 at 5:19 pm
[…] at MomGadget, I remember the influence and memories with my grandparents that help mold the person I am […]
b5media Lifestyles Channel Pays Tribute to Grandparents
Sep 9, 2008 at 8:17 pm
[…] at MomGadget, Gayla remembers the influence and memories with her grandparents that help mold the person she is […]
alan
Sep 10, 2008 at 5:01 pm
thanks for sharing your memories gayla and i love your blog, keep up the good work
Lauren Starr
Sep 11, 2008 at 7:00 am
Beautiful story Gayla, thanks for sharing that.
Dennis
Sep 11, 2008 at 11:10 am
Hi Gayla,
Thank you for sharing. I have had my grandparent who were always taken care about me but now they both gone to heaven. I miss them a lot everyday…
Abhinav Poddar
Sep 11, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Thanks a lot for sharing this with all of us….I miss those days when i was young and used to really play with Granny like anything….these days once i was 21, i don do that.I only shout at her…And tell you, I really curse myself after that…You know sometimes I feel, why am i doing that with her when she has made me what I am today…Hope I will change and give her what i want….
Cigarest
Sep 20, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Thank you for sharing this beautiful memory with your readers! Sorryfully, not all of ua are lucky enough to have their grandparents around…
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