Recommended for you

Start writing a post

Relationships

My Greek Has Gotten Better, Yiayia, And 17 Other Things I Wish I Could Tell You In Heaven

I'm so happy to have so many pieces of you within myself.

Nicole Grumbos

Oct 22, 2018

Clemson University

509

My Greek Has Gotten Better, Yiayia, And 17 Other Things I Wish I Could Tell You In Heaven

Personal photo

My most favorite thing in this entire world is when people tell me that I am just like you. I love when people say that our laughs are so alike and that our humor is scarily alike. To be compared to you is the highest form of flattery I've ever been subjected to. I can't physically express how much I miss you, but I know you're with me. I can't explain it, but Jesus is making it happen. If you were next to me right now as I sit typing these bittersweet words there are a few things I would want you to know—I hope you can hear me, angel.

1. Mama is doing okay.

She's back to her old antics. She answers the phone singing a silly song to make me laugh and can hardly contain her own laughter. She's almost out of hand sometimes to be honest, but I wouldn't have her any other way.

2. I found the man I'm going to marry—And I'm so happy you got to meet him.

So, you probably saw this one coming. You tended to know things long before I did. But it's definitely him. It always has been.

3. I'm growing my hair out again.

You always loved how long it could get and told me to keep it growing, growing, growing.

4. We haven't stopped talking about you since the day you left us.

You might even wish we would since it makes us sad. You above anyone else wanted there to be laughter filling our lives every second of every day. Make no mistake though—when we're talking about you we can't help but laugh at some ill-timed, inappropriate joke you no doubt told us with no concern for filtering yourself.

5. I see red birds all the time—thank you for checking in on us.

I know that's you sending me a little reminder to smile. I feel so certain that sometimes you wish that bird could talk so you could tell me something outrageously funny.

6. George graduated from college.

That's right, Yiayia. One of your fab five got his diploma. The rest of us are still grinding it out at school day by day and hoping to make you immensely proud on our graduation days just like we know you were on his.

7. I'm going to cook through your recipe book.

This might be a complete and total disaster. But, I'm really going to try. And don't worry, I won't let Mama do anything unsupervised.

8. I'm going to be a writer.

Well, hopefully. I have no idea what Jesus has in store for me, but I really want to write. I want to write any and everything, report facts and recite poetry, be the author of a fiction novel and so much more.

9. I will never forget those late night bowls of fruit loops.

This was your signature. A huge dinner that you either cooked or we ordered from one of our favorite take-out places was never enough. Somehow, we always found room for fruit loops.

10. Your support in every single thing I did will always mean the world to me.

I don't think I would possess half of the confidence that I do today if it wasn't for you. You never, ever failed to encourage me and advise me to the best of your abilities. I have never met a better listener or anyone on earth who loves me more unconditionally than you did. I owe a large part of who I am to you.

11. You could not have loved me better.

You could not have loved any of your grandchildren better than you did, sweet Yiayia. It's not possible. You need to know that more than anything else.

12. We could not love you more.

We are always going to love you more than you'll ever know. To say the feeling was mutual is an understatement.

13. The beach is our happy place because of you.

You made the beach even more incredible by making it a memory of you. I'll never forget you sitting on the sand, right where the waves hit, waiting for the prettiest shells to come right to you. And they always did.

14. I am honored to have your middle name.

It makes me feel fuller. I feel stronger, more confident in my comedic capabilities and in my ability to love the people I love with all of my heart.

15. Uncle and Yiyi are doing okay, too.

All of your children are happy as clams. You gave them what they needed to be the greatest parents to all of us that they could be and to love us in an indescribable way.

16. Thank you for teaching me so many wonderful things about our heritage.

I am prouder than you know to have a little bit of Arahova in me. To be able to call a place across the world 'home' because of you (and Baboonie, of course) is beyond amazing.

17. My Greek has gotten even better.

Okay, maybe not that much, but I can read at like a first grade level now. I'm impressed with myself, at least. I pretty confident that you would be impressed and proud of me too.

18. I miss you every day.

I couldn't help this part if I wanted to. I think of you in the little things I do and I constantly picture your face and hear your laugh and see your little shoulders shake up and down when you find something particularly funny. Your smile lit up the entire room and your voice made everyone happy as soon as you said something.

I know you're with me. I promise you that I do. I don't ever feel like I'm without you but I definitely wish I could squeeze your hand and lay on your chest and fall asleep just like I did when I was little. You gave us only the fondest memories and for that, I am forever grateful to God. You were a gift, my angel Yiayia. I love you bunches.

Report this Content

This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Smith College

90014

college students waiting in a long line in the hallway

StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

waitlisted

Swoon

Navigating the Talking Stage: 21 Essential Questions to Ask for Connection

It's mandatory to have these conversations.

National Writers Society

152392

a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less

single life

Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

Marist College

62189

loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets

StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less

Recommended for you

My Greek Has Gotten Better, Yiayia, And 17 Other Things I Wish I Could Tell You In Heaven

I'm so happy to have so many pieces of you within myself.

1. Mama is doing okay.

2. I found the man I'm going to marry—And I'm so happy you got to meet him.

3. I'm growing my hair out again.

4. We haven't stopped talking about you since the day you left us.

5. I see red birds all the time—thank you for checking in on us.

6. George graduated from college.

7. I'm going to cook through your recipe book.

8. I'm going to be a writer.

9. I will never forget those late night bowls of fruit loops.

10. Your support in every single thing I did will always mean the world to me.

11. You could not have loved me better.

12. We could not love you more.

13. The beach is our happy place because of you.

14. I am honored to have your middle name.

15. Uncle and Yiyi are doing okay, too.

16. Thank you for teaching me so many wonderful things about our heritage.

17. My Greek has gotten even better.

18. I miss you every day.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

It's mandatory to have these conversations.

1. What do you do for a living?

2. What's your favorite color?

3. Do you have any siblings?

4. What's your favorite television show?

5. When is your birthday?

6. What's your biggest goal in life?

7. If you had three wishes granted to you by a genie, what would they be?

8. What's your favorite childhood memory?

9. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?

10. Are you a cat or a dog person?

11. Do you believe in a religion or any sort of spiritual power?

12. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

13. What is your ideal date night?

14. Who was/is your celebrity crush?

15. What's a good way to cheer you up if you're having a bad day?

16. Do you have any tattoos?

17. Can you describe yourself in three words?

18. What makes you the most nervous in life?

19. What's the best gift you have ever received?

20. What do you do to relax/have fun?

21. What are your priorities at this phase of your life?

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

Ingredients

Instructions

Ingredients

Instructions

Trending Topics

Top Creators

Trending Stories

Subscribe to our
Newsletter