“You know, Waverly, I was a lot like you when I was your age.”

These words are usually followed by a piece of wisdom from days long since passed or encouraging words based off of a similar experience. You nod along, taking in the advice of your elder while simultaneously wondering just how similar you two really are and how this advice will actually apply to you. Nevertheless, you agree with the sentiments. You both banter back and forth over a plate of dessert, which you picked out together to share, and discuss your similarities and your recent adventures.

I went to lunch with my grandma last Thursday. This is not necessarily an uncommon occurrence, but I admit that it’s not necessarily usual for just the two of us to get together. Most of the time, my family, consisting of my mom, dad, sister, and myself, venture to one of the towns over from us to spend time with my grandma together. We usually frequent the same spots and take part in the same activities (by activities, I mean eating and more eating). We discuss things going on in each of our lives, often only brushing past the surface of each topic. These outings are “regular,” but lunch between the two of us is anything but that.

I was blessed with two amazing grandparents in my life from the time when I was born. Despite both of my grandfathers passing away before I had the chance to meet either of them, I never felt like I was lacking any family in the grandparent department. I had two amazing grandmothers who cared for me, were proud of me, and who took tremendous interest in my life. While one of my grandmothers lives in Florida (where, I will admit, it’s difficult to fly for a quick lunch or cup of coffee), the other lives only 20 minutes away in the next town over. This is the grandma with whom I often have lunch.

I cherish lunch with my grandma. We try new places, experiment with wearing new outfits for each other, and pick out desserts to share when we’re already full from the meal before. However, honestly, I could care less about the locations, the outfits, or the meals. When I have lunch with my grandma, we touch on more than the surface of a topic. We talk about her past, my past, and my family’s past. We discuss my future, and my choices, the similar choices that she made, and how she’s just like me. We laugh about the hilarious stories that she shares about my dad, her son, as a child and a mischievous college student. We pridefully bond over the unbelievably amazing influence of my parents on both of us. She delves deeply into my thoughts and feelings, while constantly reminding me that she’s proud, but it’s not only about me. We discuss her recent adventures with her friends, who she retells stories so vividly about that I feel like I know them well. We discuss my family members and their recent accomplishments. The waiters and waitresses usually hear us boasting loudly about these. My love for these lunches is indescribable. The laughs, the conversations, and the memories that make up these encounters wouldn’t be possible without the unwavering support of a grandparent.

Grandparents are unique. A grandparent provides undying love and support, much like a parent, but they are overwhelmingly proud of you in a way that is sort of impossible to put into words. You could crash every single car that you own and your grandparent would still probably worship you and tell you that everything will be OK. Grandparents are there, sitting peacefully and eagerly on the sidelines of your life, waiting to jump into the game as soon as you need them. They don’t force their way in, they’re just there and they seem to know exactly when you need them the most. They provide an outlook on life that is unparalleled by any other person who you know. They possess invaluable experience and a lifetime’s worth of love and generosity to unleash. A grandparent’s time is one of the most valuable assets that a person can obtain. There are few things that I look forward to more than seeing the latest movie with my Grammy Eadie or watching reruns of "NCIS" with Grammy Rhoda. For these reasons, time spent with either of my grandparents is extremely significant.

While there are those that have not or who can no longer experience a grandparent’s love, this is a reminder that their love for you is strong, regardless of where they are or what they are doing. That is the beauty of a grandparent. They will always root for you, they will always support you, and they will always love you. Grammy, this one is for you and the caramel apple pie that we shared last week.