I lost both grandfathers at a very young age. I don't think I recall my paternal grandfather, save that he used to throw me beautiful birthday parties when I was a child and that he saved me from punishments when I was a child. My maternal grandfather I knew better, because he came home with us and spent several months entertaining me and my younger brother. Each time we visited India without my father, we would stay at my mother's house and my grandpa would narrate stories of his days in the army and he would take us to the temple and sing for hours at end. His loss was felt more strongly because I remember seeing my mom cry and leave the country and then not being allowed to go to the funeral.
My grandmothers, I have known better. My paternal grandmother is a disciplined woman who's been an amazing mother to my dad and his three siblings. She's been an amazing grandmother to me and my cousins too, always feeding us whatever we wanted, giving us chocolates and even fussing over my hair and the way I looked. Although sometimes I get annoyed at her, I know I'll always love her and that she'll always love me.
My maternal grandmother, on the other hand is a silent woman who has taken care of her family almost all her life. She's never said a word against her children and she's kept a majority of her feelings to herself. She lives alone in a house which has been around for several decades, she's been moved around from one city to another due to my grandfather's army placements. She seems to many like a strong and independent woman, but how old does one have to get to show the world that she isn't?
I've never really had time to interact with my grandmothers in the past, but this summer, I've had plenty of time to interact with my maternal grandmother who's come home with us. Her memory is fading, slowly and I'm here to help her remember the things she's forgetting. To make sure that she remembers who I am, who she is, what she's experienced in life. And to some extent, it's actually helping.
Never taking ones grandparents for granted is possibly one of the most important thing a grandchild can do. Even if they are a few generations older than you, they have valuable insight that you may never get from anyone else.
My grandmothers, I have known better. My paternal grandmother is a disciplined woman who's been an amazing mother to my dad and his three siblings. She's been an amazing grandmother to me and my cousins too, always feeding us whatever we wanted, giving us chocolates and even fussing over my hair and the way I looked. Although sometimes I get annoyed at her, I know I'll always love her and that she'll always love me.
My maternal grandmother, on the other hand is a silent woman who has taken care of her family almost all her life. She's never said a word against her children and she's kept a majority of her feelings to herself. She lives alone in a house which has been around for several decades, she's been moved around from one city to another due to my grandfather's army placements. She seems to many like a strong and independent woman, but how old does one have to get to show the world that she isn't?
I've never really had time to interact with my grandmothers in the past, but this summer, I've had plenty of time to interact with my maternal grandmother who's come home with us. Her memory is fading, slowly and I'm here to help her remember the things she's forgetting. To make sure that she remembers who I am, who she is, what she's experienced in life. And to some extent, it's actually helping.
Never taking ones grandparents for granted is possibly one of the most important thing a grandchild can do. Even if they are a few generations older than you, they have valuable insight that you may never get from anyone else.
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