Today is Grandparents
Day, a very special day for members of the family who probably do not receive recognition
often enough. After all, if it weren’t
for them, we would not be here. Grandparents
are a special breed; some are overly affectionate, while others offer what they
can, based on what they learned from their own parents and grandparents. Those in their 70’s, 80’s and 90’s are a much
different generation than the younger grandparents of today.
I always
felt fortunate to have grandparents, even great grandparents, while I was in
high school. Many of my friends did not
have grandparents and there were quite a few whose parents were close to the
age of my grandparents. Obviously, my
parents had me when they were fairly young.
While it might not be an ideal situation for young adults to have
children, it did give me the advantage of having my great grandparents around
for much of my younger years.
I also had
the advantage of having more than the normal amount of grandparents. When my parents split up and my dad
remarried, I will still pretty young when I gained a step-mom, as well as two additional
grandparents. For the remainder of my childhood,
I not only had great grandparents still living but also six
grandparents.
As time
happens to pass, so do our loved ones. I
was a young adult when the last of my great grandparents passed away but I have
been so fortunate to have had my grandparents through most of my
adulthood. It has also meant that my
boys have also had the benefits of getting to know their great grandparents. Although I have lost four of my grandparents
over the past decade, I feel blessed that they were able to be a part of the
earlier years of my boys’ lives.
I wish to
dedicate this post to my grandparents who are still living and also to those who
have passed on:
My step-grandmother
who was the first to pass away was a very independent soul with a tough attitude,
never taking guff from anyone, young or old.
My maternal grandfather saw many, many things throughout his long life
and probably grew up believing he had to always be strong but I will forever be
grateful for the caring words he offered me before he left us. My paternal grandfather was a kind and caring
soul, he was a good listener, and he was a constant joke-teller, oftentimes
making you laugh before he got to the punch line because he was already
laughing so hard himself. Just being
around him made you feel special and I truly miss that about him. My maternal grandmother was someone who never
seemed to change in appearance throughout my childhood years and even now when
I view old photographs it still amazes me.
She was a tough cookie during my younger years, seeing many things
throughout her 94 years but as she aged, she also became more affectionate and eager
to be a part of my life and my sons’ lives.
She was a sweet, caring and very cute grandmother and I am thankful for the
time we spent with her in her later years.
Now that I
am feeling very nostalgic about the grandparents who are gone, I will move on
to talk about my grandparents who are still very much with us:
My
step-grandfather is a quiet and gentle man who, now in his 80’s, is still very
active socially and physically. He could
probably put some men half his age to shame not only in stamina but also in bowling
skills. If only everyone could age as
well as him, the younger generation might look at their elders in a much
different light. And then there is my maternal grandmother. She is one of the most loving and caring
individuals you might ever meet. She has
a calm spirit and is someone who will always be there if I need her. She is such a wonderful grandmother, other
kids would want to call her grandma when she was a cook at my elementary school;
something I was always jealous about when I was a kid. Well, who am I kidding? I’d probably be jealous now if anyone else
wanted to call her grandma!
Here’s a
quote and a cute snapshot of my grandparents before my grandfather passed away:
“The history of our grandparents is
remembered not with rose petals
but in the laughter and tears of their children
and their children's children.
It is into us that the lives of grandparents
have gone.
It is in us that their history becomes a future.”
~Charles and Ann Morse~
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