I am 20 years old with absolutely no grandparents left on this Earth. My last grandparent went home to the Lord (as I like to put it), about two years ago. So I’m left with my parents (which I’m very blessed to still have), a few aunts and uncles, with loads of cousins and great cousins. Although I have both of my parents in my life, I also often wonder how life would’ve been if I had at least one parent from each parent left.

So to break it down, my mama’s daddy went home to the Lord when she was about 21 (Me nor any of my cousins was born during that time). He passed away almost 35 years ago, mind you my oldest first cousin is only 25. So she was ten years shy from meeting him. He passed away from lung cancer and that was pretty much that. My mama’s mama went home to the Lord two years ago. Out of all the grandparents she is the one I have the most memory of, and will probably always have the most memory of. But before she passed, she had lived with us for about five years and had declined in health each year. My daddy’s dad went home to the Lord (see I told you I love saying that, it sounds a little gentler than the word "die" or you find me saying passed away) about 18 years ago. I was only two, so I don’t remember him at all. My daddy’s mama went home to the Lord when I had just turned seven. I remember bits and pieces of her but not much. I know for sure I don’t remember how she sounded, but I do remember some of the places we went to and me being with her.

So as you can see, each and every one of my grandparents have went home to the Lord and I’m not even sure if I know what it feels like to have a full on grandparent. I mean my last grandparent died two years ago, but she was sick five years before she passed away so I really couldn’t enjoy her like I wanted to. I tried my best to spend as much time with her as I could because I knew one day she wouldn’t be with me. I remember one of the last deep conversations we had before she passed away was about her seeing me off to college, and she told me she wouldn’t be here when I go to college; boy was she right. I absolutely miss that woman.

Now with the grandfathers, I have no idea what it feels like to have a grandfather. I have no recollection of neither one of them and I didn’t have that grandfather-granddaughter bond with either of them.

For those of you who have grandparents, make sure you’re appreciating them and taking time to see if they’re okay. You have someone to call if your parents say no, or someone to help you out when times are getting hard. They’re the go to group of people. Remember they won’t be here all your life enjoy them while you have them.

I may have not had grandparents for long but I still love each of them and are able to live through them with the stories my parents tell of them.