For as long as I can remember, visiting Grammy and Papa has been one of my favorite things. I mean, it's live-action viewing of an old couple in love. No matter your age, you can feel spoiled when you're with your grandparents. You'll always have unwavering love and support for whatever thing you've decided to show them! Mine have been victims to fake piano performances, recreating a Beach Boys concert in their living room, plenty of cheesy jokes and a decent number of dance recitals. It's the ego boost everyone wants. What could be better? I've spent a handful of vacation days having one-on-one time with my grandparents and from fifth grade to my fifth year in college, it's still the number one destination when I have enough free time to travel.
I have to be honest, as much as I love my grandparents, they can also be their fair share of challenges. Within a minute of seeing my grandparents this week, I had already been asked to help them with their bags three separate times! Papa wasn't even in the door yet with the only bag they ended up having. Regardless, I did it because if I hadn't, my dad's guilt would be radiating in the back of my head from 14 hours away. But their need to spoil me and make me happy can be trying when I'm not the type of person to demand things specifically for myself unless under extreme circumstances. Them asking for help is a way of showing they trust in me. Trying hard to find something special in a store just for me but only being asked about dairy products when I'm lactose intolerant is their way of showing how happy they are for me to be there. They want to express their love by treating me to an ice cream.
I'm well aware that not everyone has the opportunity to visit their grandparents anymore. I truly do feel for you after losing one of my grandfathers this past year, but for those of you who still have them around: they have so much to offer. They love you unconditionally and the hold your family history is their memories. Isn't it awesome to have the chance of a live history lesson about your own family than even reading it in a book or viewing it in faded photo albums? They are your biggest cheerleaders, besides Mom and Dad, and they often have stories about you that you have never heard before. Near or far away they have followed your life story, the challenge is to get those stories you haven't heard 1000 times.
What are you waiting for?
Depending on their age, it might be the last chance you get. Morbid as that may be, it's a reality. I've seen my grandparents go from the active "old people" to actual old people. Whether it be Grandpa Al, who just passed away after dealing with dementia for the last part of his life, or Nan going from being a member of the lawn-bowling league to having to wear a Life Alert necklace. Grammy and Papa, who used to walk a mile every day, to Grammy suffering from Parkinson's and having to yell at her body to do what she's trying to make it do. It's a scary thing. Nobody really likes to see people get old, but it's the natural cycle of life, and it should be taken as a reminder to go see your grandparents whenever you can.
When I'm with my grandparents, it's as if I'm driving through a museum of Papa's life, which, believe me, is the coolest thing. I've spent almost my entire life in North Carolina, which is 12 hours away from my closest family member in Canada, so coming to a town where everyone knows my grandfather is one of the coolest things ever. It seems that every time I'm with him I'll end up meeting another distant cousin.He grew up in this town which he has returned to in his retirement. Some of these relatives and folks from town haven't seen him in 50 years. They do not know how successful he has been in life. He grew up with his single mother and with little luxuries. His mother worked for a living in the local hospital. In fact at 13 he had to board with a local family since it was not appropriate for a young man to live in the hospital with is mother. He finished high school at 16 and went off to college on his own. There he found some life long friends and his wife of 59 years. To his family he is a hero and has an incredible story of success, but to the people from town, he is simply the guy they knew back then.I love my grandparents. I love getting to visit them. I'm overwhelmed that I get to spend my vacations with people who are so proud of everything I'm doing and are just happy for me to be with them. They spend so much of their time when I'm visiting them making sure I'm happy and enjoying our time together, even if they don't believe that all I want to do is lounge around.Plus the view isn't too bad.
The view from the cottage my last trip to see my grandparents.
