When I first met my would-be adopted grandparents, I don't know what I thought. I'm sure it wasn't a vision or expectation anywhere close to what actually happened. My family started to go to Qi Gong on Saturday mornings, and it seemed like a fun experience. Then, suddenly, it wasn't just going to a friend of my parents' house. I cared about them, I wanted to be around them, we were spending actual time together!
I don't even know where the line between family friend and family was drawn, but for almost a year now I've had another set of grandparents. It has been life changing. They've taught me important life lessons, some of them more specific to myself than others.
I learned patience. Not only did Qi Gong give me a reason to be up before 9 a.m. on Saturdays, but it also helped me stretch and keep myself in some sort of shape, and I realized that even on days I didn't want to go, I wanted to see my grandparents. I would go feeling tired and entirely not in the mood to do any movement other than falling back into bed, but it would be worth it because I would get to spend time with my family.
I relearned the importance of art. My grandmother is part of Clarksville's Downtown Artists Cooperative, and only a dozen or so other projects around town. She's involved, and it's amazing. I never thought I'd get so good at talking to people--remembering names, faces, occupations--and networking with them, but I think I'm getting the hang of it. We've done workshops together, we've gone to events, and it may seem normal to other people, maybe even ordinary, but that's why I love it. I feel like these experiences are happening late in my life, but I'm not complaining. I'm thankful to be having them at all.
I learned that Clarksville actually has a history that I care about! My grandparents live in the same area that Caroline Gordon did, an author who brought other writers together during her time. And, in a wonderful irony, my grandparents have kept up the tradition by always bringing artists together. The musicians that come together for their picking parties are always incredibly kind and talented.
I learned that the best kind of surprise gift is a baby goat...if that's what the person in question wanted. I also learned that a dozen people can build entire shelters out of fencing, wood, and bamboo in a matter of days if that's what it takes to make the gift perfect.
This isn't going to be relatable to everyone, but I'd like to make a case for families that aren't related by blood, families that aren't formed until late into our lives; sometimes they are the most important ones we will ever have.
I love my grandparents, not because they've been around my whole life or because they're related to me. I love them because I chose them, and our short time together has been like a lifetime of greatness to me.
