The prompt for this blog post was to write a story that makes the reader “feel warm inside”, and I chose to write about my grandma since she is a great source of happiness in my life.
My grandma has been my lifelong companion. When I was born, she moved here to help care for and raise me. During childhood summers, she would take me on a walk every day, despite being over 70 years old. Her spirit radiated youth, the only indication of aging being the little strands of gray spread throughout her otherwise black hair and the creases under her eyes when she smiled. She walked fast and stood tallβshe would never be caught slouching. It was her brisk walk that pushed my stroller so swiftly out of our cul-de-sac onto the concrete sidewalk and, when I got too old for the stroller, the walk whose pace I struggled to match. We took the same route nearly every trip: first straight ahead to the park, then to Whole Foods or a nearby coffee shop for a snack, if our fridge was full. If it was particularly sunny that day, which it frequently was come summertime, she would bring her large black umbrella to protect us from the scorching heat. When it was too hot we would skip the park, walking closely matching our strides until we were greeted by the chilling air conditioning of a coffee shop, wrapping up our umbrella before we stepped inside. My favorite days, however, were when we needed groceries. We would load up the shopping cart and checkout and right after we got outside, I would unbox the popsicles or ice cream I had just picked out. All the way home I would be contently devouring my new treat, often returning with the remnants of the snack smeared around my mouth. Soon, these walks were no longer just between the two of us as our family welcomed my younger brother. Now, he was the one being pushed in the stroller, and my grandma and I would take turns since I was eager but too short to keep the stroller steady. I was ecstatic to have a sibling and more than willing to share our walks with him. As I got older, my summers became busier, filled with camps and classes, and I was no longer able to go on walks every day. She got older too, her head now completely gray, yet her spirit (and posture) has remained unwavering. Even though my grandma and I no longer go on our daily walks, we still spent and continue to spend a lot of time together. She has taught me to cherish family and been an exemplary role model in my life as well as my biggest supporter throughout all my endeavors and successes. I aspire to live as fulfilling a life as her and be a source of joy for my friends and family like she has been for me.
