My soul is old. I can feel it. The things and lifestyle I want is odd, foreign and yet familiar to me. Let me try to explain.
My Grandma
I grew up with my grandma on my dads side. Arizona born and light as can be. Fluent in spanish and feistier than heck. Rough on the outside but, a gem in the middle. I'm pretty sure no one understands her as much as I did. You see my grandma she let me be anything I wanted. She inspired me to create anything and praised everything I came up with. There was nothing she couldn't do. A product of her generation. She wasn't born into riches and wealth quit the opposite actually. She learned how to stretch a $20 bill to the furthest it can go. She sewed, gardened, and cooked up a storm in the kitchen. From time to time I can still smell the herbs in her garden and the cactus cooking with chili. Figs from her tree were treats in the early morning, and collecting oranges was a game I played while holding my rabbit standing by my red wagon.
Running in my night gown through her fruit trees was a summer delight and seeing her smile from ear to ear while pulling weeds through the day. I ran errands with her and she would take me to craft shows full of ''grandmas'' just like her. I can remember looking through her book shelf and finding picture books of Bible stories. I remember interrupting her ''quiet time'' with Jesus while reading her Bible in spanish not really grasping that she was spending time with her maker. My grandpa was around of course and they had an interesting yet typical relationship. They always fought (in spanish of course) she would bicker and he would fuss, but she loved to tell the story of how she eagerly awaited him from world war II.How happy she was when he finally returned so they could wed. Her stories are still my favorite. Her whole era intrigues me and from the time I was a wee little one I LOVED to hear those old stories of how they were so poor they only bathed once a week and I would gasp! and she would sternly lecture how spoiled we are now hahahha O grandma!
I've heard the stories of war, their first meet and greet, and when my dad was little, and my aunt never stopped crying. My favorite story of how my grandpa would write her everyday from the time he left till he returned. Too little to fully grasp the honor I should have given him for his bravery and courage. Far too young to even know I was listening to gems of old. The good days. They knew far too well what real hard work was and appreciated every good thing they had.
Time: what a concept. We can't buy time back and we long for more time in a day. Spend a day with someone who inspires you. Or simply thank your grammy for me. She holds memories of you and for you. Stories of generations long ago and stories you could never buy at barnes and nobles. Stories to tell your own littles.
Last story
She loved Arizona. We traveled far and found a tiny town in a forest called Williams, Arizona, and I was introduced to a similar lifestyle that I didn't know I would later encounter and call my own. Funny huh? I remember watching those small town football games and taking evening strolls to watch the sunset with her. I called their vacation house a ''Barbie House'' because it was so small. All those memories are hidden in my heart and I pull them out from time to time. A lot of my everyday life I think of her a whole lot. So much around me brings me back to my childhood in her backyard. When my imagination was real, raw and simple. Sometimes I'll smile. Other times I'll laugh, and once in a while I'll shed a tiny tear knowing I'm so far away now, and she's ending her long life. Although she really is the healthiest 92 year old I have ever met. The years have been good to her. Now widowed she fights the gruesome battle of loneliness that the cycle of life brings. Her hope is Jesus and His dwelling place for her and of course reuniting with my grandpa. I can still hear her say ''I can't wait to garden with Jesus.''
Grandparents are such a gift. I realize that now. I often think about what my grandchildren will write or think of me. I'm so thankful beyond words for this page for my grandparents, and my children's grandparents. Thank you!
I anticipate a lot of things in preparing a trip home and she's one of them.
My Grandma
-Jenny B
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