Through out my life, there have been plenty of friends that have come and gone. Even after high school, I only kept in contact with about three or four people. But there are three people who have never left my side since day one of my existence: my grandparents.
On my mother's side, I have both grandparents: Grandma Sliv, and Grandpa John. They met at college and have been together ever since. They have lived in multiple states around the United States, but they settled down for good in Boyton Beach, Florida. Going down to visit them was always like an escape for me. They have their own pool, and we would go out and do something almost every day. We have visited the Everglades, seen Eric Clapton in concert, seen Cirque du Soleil, and so much more. There was never a dull moment.
They are also the most supportive people I know. From day one, if I wanted to do something, they were there. They made special trips up to Virginia to just to watch me perform at music camp or to perform at my high school's Coffee Houses. They would spend two and a half hours on a plane to watch me perform for three or four minutes. I can always count on them to support me in anything I'll do. I'll always know that they love me.
On my father's side, I only have my grandmother: Grandma Connie. My grandfather died of a heart attack in December of 1996, just months before I was born. However, this has not kept her from being the best grandmother that she can be. She, like my other set of grandparents, has made it her life mission to support me. However, she has never lived more than two miles down the road from me.
Whenever I was ill or just wanted some company, I never had to travel far. Her house was always the home away from home. She never hesitated to open up her home to my friends and I: countless sleepovers and high calorie treats for everyone. I probably have more memories of family gatherings and birthdays at her homes than in my own. She never failed to brighten my day. She is one of the most selfless and loving people I know.
Like millions of other people, I had a hard time growing up and there were plenty of ups and downs. However, I realized that no matter how much I had disappointed my parents or myself, my grandparents were always there to lift me up. It always felt like they had a different way of putting everything into perspective, like, no matter how badly I had messed up, there was always a way to fix things or some upside to the situation. I could always trust them to tell me the truth. I never felt like I could disappoint them, which always made me feel like I could come to them for just about anything. To this day, I don't know what I would have done without them, but I sure hope I never have to find out.
