CW: Death
Today marks 13 years since my grandmother passed away. I have been blessed to have two wonderful grandmothers. Growing up, I always enjoyed spending time with both of them.
One of my favorite memories is from when I was about eight years old. As someone who grew up in Massachusetts, I have been a Boston Red Sox fan as far back as I can remember. I was a member of the Kid Nation program for years.
I showed my grandmother my collectible lunchbox and membership card. She joked that she would call Theo Epstein (the GM at the time) and ask him to start a grandparent’s nation. She had a wonderful sense of humor and a deep love of family.
My grandmother loved all of us dearly. She had many grandchildren. However, she made sure we all knew that we were loved. Having a grandmother like her is a blessing.
I have fond memories of having breakfast with her at IHOP. She loved the lemon crepes. 13 years later, I still think of her whenever I see an IHOP advertisement, a box of Honey Bunches Of Oats, Keebler Club Crackers, or Nestle Dibs.
Later in life, she developed dementia. It was heartbreaking to watch her struggle to remember things. One day, I brought my iPad with me to her nursing home. Initially, she didn’t quite understand what it was.
I downloaded versions of game shows like The Price Is Right and Family Feud. My grandmother could remember the rules of the game shows. I used her love of them to connect with her that day. Memories of playing The Price Is Right still bring a smile to my face.
Grief changes, but love does not. Thirteen years later, and I see her in everyday signs: a familiar cereal box on a shelf, a Red Sox game playing on television, a joke she would have liked, or a food such as lemon crepes at IHOP. All these reminders are small gifts to me: a reminder of how she is still a part of my life.
I miss her dearly. However, I am grateful for every memory of her, every laugh we shared, every breakfast, every game show we watched, and every second she made me feel important and loved. As the years go by, the more I am aware of how lucky I was to have a grandmother like her.