grandparents
Becoming a grandparent makes getting older something to look forward to - all the fun of parenting, without the hassle.
“Walk of Love”
She walked in certainty towards the garden with a purpose driven by a grandmother’s love. My grandmother, almost 78 years old at the time, never let age stop her from tradition and her evening walks to the garden would prove to be a very significant one. I always did everything with my granny, following her around like a shadow and ready to assist with daily task. Granny was always very accepting of my help but her evening walks to the garden was something she always did alone. She would purposely wait until I was bathed, dressed and ready for bed before even attempting her evening mission. It was okay with me because the fact that I wasn’t included made it seem mysterious. I would watch from my bedroom window as she would push herself with every step to make it up to that garden.” What is so important that made her so adamant about those walks?” A question I would ask myself many times! Well, that is until curiosity got the best of me one day and I simply blurted out, “Granny, why do make those trips to the garden on certain evenings?” She just giggled her distinctive giggle and said “ well darling, I go to fertilize the pear tree!
By Grace Banks4 years ago in Families
The Pear Tree
Fiction but based on a true story. My name is Jack. I never really liked my name until after my great-grandfather came to live with us. See, I was named after my great-grandfather, but I didn’t really know much about his life until I was around eight years old, which was the summer I found the pear tree in a wooded area near a creek in our suburban neighborhood. I was out exploring the neighborhood, something I began doing a lot since Great-Grandpa Jack moved in. My great-grandfather was quiet and sat in a big chair my parents added to our living room when he moved in. He had an old person smell and since I hadn’t spent much time around him before he moved in, I didn’t know what to say to him, so I would leave the television to him and go outside as often as possible that summer.
By Cathy Money4 years ago in Families
A Pear Tree in Maine
It was around 2010 that my grandmother decided she could no longer take care of herself, and insisted she move in with her son, my father, and the rest of our family. No one resisted. When Grandma Olive made up her mind about something, it was going to happen, and happen that day. We packed up everything she owned and moved her into the little apartment above the garage of our home in Maine.
By Gracelyn Kuzman4 years ago in Families
Growing Strong
My grandmother was age thirteen when she married. Although this was not uncommon for the era, one wonders how those few childhood years could have prepared her for what was ahead. What little schooling she received fed her mind with the bare essentials. One can only imagine what sort of conversations she had at home, if any, to nurture her emotional growth, Initially, I wondered if she married because of a love at first sight story. If so, she would never have uttered it aloud, it would have been considered immature—even at thirteen she would have recognized this. More likely it was to escape the increasing violence of the Mexican Revolution. Because of the political and economic climate, my best guess is both sets of parents decided these two young ones had a better chance at survival away from the violence. Any apprehension they may have felt about sending the children away didn't compare with the turmoil surrounding. Most everyone in the village knew right from wrong and chose to live moral lives and brought up their children in like manner. Commitment to family and hard work were also the norm, few other options were available, at least to the poor in Mexico. Of course there would be no romantic courting as that would have been considered frivolous for the time. Certainly no pomp and circumstance to announce the vows they would keep until death parted them. The ceremony was held in a small church and even though it was a sacred event witnessed by God, it was simply another page to turn in her book of life. Her few belongings waited for their new destination; due north -- Arizona, U.S.A. circa 1913.
By D M Alvarez4 years ago in Families
Corn
Whenever I see corn or eat corn, is when I see my grandfather, I relive through all the memories. Humberto was his name for starters, growing up, I never had the chance to constantly be around him as much as I would have loved to, but he'd come for visit to our little house every few months from Mexico. There was never a specific timeline, he was one to surprise, one of his favorite activities, was to pick up five boxes of natural corn every week from individual sellers, what I heard they taste much better than the store brought, they are less sweet and more natural, from then he'd take the fun to our backyard, my siblings and I was invited to help peel the corn at all times, and every time I helped him, those were the special moments, the connections, the music, specifically speaking rancheras and days like the times I would try my best to save each worm, scientifically I refer to the Helicoverpa zea, who find habitat from the plant. He had a passion for getting us to move, do activities for the day, for example taking my youngest brother Joaquin for a six am duty walk around the neighborhood to find recyclable bottles, not only did he unintentionally help us keep the earth green, but he also educated us in all aspects and in ways no other has, in his free time, he'd enjoy the unthinkable like placing a flying bug on my sister's shoulder, nearly giving her a panic attack, and chasing her around with it, oh I remember that day like it was yesterday, he showed his love by tickling us more than anything, or giving us a spook, or advising us with hilarious stories.
By Jimena Favela4 years ago in Families
The Pear Tree
The year is 1999, I am 7 years old and I remember going to my great grandparents house and playing out in the backyard with my older brother and sister. The warmth of the sun peeking through the tree branches. Every time we went to visit these sweet elderly couple who have been together for as long as I can remember. I always admired the pear tree that stood directly in the middle of their backyard. We would have to be careful, because the pears would fall out of their tree and into the yard. I would always pick them up and throw them up and hit them with a baseball bat. My brother would pitch one to me and I would hit the pear as hard as I could making it shatter into a million pieces. My sister would throw them against the pear tree. We were just a couple of kids having some fun. My great grandmother, her name was Juanita, she always had the most gentle voice and touch. She was indeed an angel in human form. She called us in the house to eat Sunday lunch like we did every Sunday. After all my great grandfather, his name was Jake, he was the pastor of the church that I grew up in. So my grandma, great grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, etc. would all meet at my great grandparents house and eat after a great service. My great grandmother had seen that I was so intrigued by this pear tree. "Would you like to know the story?" she asked me. "What story ma?" I asked. She looked out of her back window which showed the tree so perfectly. "About the pear tree." she said. I had no idea there was a story that went with this tree, but she really had my attention on this one. "Yes ma'am." I said. As we made our plates of the delicious home cooked meals, and sat down at the table that fit our whole family, my great grandpa or as I called him Pa started to pray. We all grabbed hands and bowed our heads as he blessed our food. After we finished our delicious food my great grandmother sat in her recliner next to my Pa like they did every single day. She called me over and sat me in her lap and began to tell me the story of the pear tree. "I met your Pa back in the early 1940's. When we saw each other I knew he was the one. Your Pa had just come home from World War II a long hard fight. I was out with my friends and then he came along. We spent every lasting day together from then on out and that's around the time we got married and I got pregnant with your grandma. We decided to plant our roots here in this very house. There were no neighbors like we have now it was just an empty field with so much potential. As I was out in that very backyard you babies play in, I was out back hanging laundry on the clothesline to dry. I couldn't help but think our backyard was just missing some beautiful flowers or trees. So your Pa and I went down to the local farmers market to buy some goods to stock up on. I'm not sure what it was but the pears seemed so beautiful to me. The color, the shape, even the word she giggled. We decided to grab a few for our center dish, as we got back home I began to wash all vegetables and fruits that we had just purchased. I decided then that I wanted my own pear tree. Your Pa and I split the pear in half, my it was so delicious she said. Then after we grabbed the seed, your Pa dug a hole and I planted it. Over the years it has grown into a beautiful pear tree and always blooms when in season. It overjoys me to see you children out playing around it and climbing it like my children used to do." she smiled as she rubbed and patted my arm. That story just made me fill all warm inside. There was so much love in this house and I truly believed at that very moment love helped grow that amazing pear tree. A few years later in 2003 my great grandfather would pass away leaving my great grandmother with a broken heart and later to pass away in 2009. The house has gone vacant, it breaks my heart to see there house wither away and I only wish that I could save it. But I know without a doubt they are together again rejoicing. Not a day goes by that I don't remember that beautiful story about my two favorite people and their beautiful pear tree that still stands to this day.
By Chelsea Montgomery 4 years ago in Families
Benefits Of In-Home Senior Care
Let’s Begin If the senior citizens in your family need quality in-home senior care, then you should know that it brings way more benefits than you can imagine. There are endless vital factors that play into someone needing at-home care- a new diagnosis, physical impairments or disabilities, deteriorating conditions or symptoms, post-surgery recovery, declining overall health, etc. Ageing at home is the best decision for adults who are no longer in good health or independent. We bring to you some of the major benefits of in-home senior care.
By Hadley Reese4 years ago in Families
