As I ‘ve grown in life from my time as a young child to a now 24 year old adult, there’s always been certain people that I’ve never forgotten, ones that have had a profound impact on me. One particular group that’s included is what I’d like to call the Grandma Generation. To elaborate, they are an older generation (think family and non-family members who are currently 70-ish and up) that have taken care of me every step of the way.
Every time I’ve gone over to either my Grandma Sylvia or Emma’s house, they’ve always made sure that I was well taken care of to the fullest extent. Hard at work in the kitchen, there was always food on the table for me and the rest of the household. There was never a time where I was at their house and had an empty stomach. There was no lack.
Whether that’d be the amazing breakfast of chorizo and eggs that my Grandma Sylvia made me or the delicious lentil soup that my Grandma Emma prepared. To this day, food being on the table remains a trademark of both of my grandmas. As much older that they now are, age doesn’t hinder them from exemplifying the hard-working and Proverbs 31 woman.
The other day, I was strolling around on the street in Alhambra that I grew up on as a child, from Kindergarten to 6th grade to be precise. There was a lady named Mary that used to take care of me when my folks had to work long hours. She too was always made sure that I had a bite to eat. After some 12 years, I decided that I would see if she was still alive to see how she and her husband were doing. To be honest, I wasn’t really banking on the fact that they would still be there.
I was surprised and so were they upon opening the door. Both remembered me. Even as I was there, the oven in the kitchen was cooking a dish. I was especially touched when Mary told me that, out of all the kids she cared for, I was the only one that came back to see her. As much as they aged, I’m very thankful that they remembered me.
These hard-working women are a big part of who I am today. As I progress in life, I wouldn’t be where I am today were it not for the tender love that they have demonstrated to me throughout all the years. It’s an unconditional love that’s always present no matter what they’re going through and no matter how anyone else treats them.
The most sobering thought is that the grandma generation’s role in my life won’t be around much longer, given that death will inevitably be a part of their aging selves. It’s this lingering thought that hovers over me as I write this post. Blogging away on this subject helps me to reflect on their blessing in my life and so that I may not take their remaining time on this earth for granted. I can’t explain why the thought has been so prominent in my mind, but I know that there is a good reason for everything that takes place. I hope to serve them as much as possible while I still have their joyful presence in my life. I am eternally grateful for them.
