A Grandma Story
ServiceSpace
--Mia Tagano
3 minute read
Apr 8, 2017

 

When I walked into her room at the nursing home this evening, my grandmother didn't know exactly who I was but she knew that we were friends and said, you want to go somewhere? And I said, yes let's go. She said, should I bring my purse? No, I said. We don't need your purse, we won't go far. Okay, she said. So we walked around the hall as if for the first time and came back as if gone much longer than we had been.

I'm hungry, she said. We have a snack here for you - how about some cut up watermelon and tea? That sounds good, she said. The nurse offered a few graham crackers as well. You have some of that cracker, my grandmother said. I offered my grandmother’s roommate Anna Mae a cracker too which she accepted and we all sat quietly for a moment, eating slow. Then, my grandmother said, in Japanese, "oh this is so good!" - many times in fact lol ..

Have you had plain graham crackers or cold, old-ish, diced watermelon lately? I personally wouldn’t go over board with it being so so good. But, if you don’t get much in the way of treats, or you don’t expect much or if you live grateful for what you get rather than wishing for something else then, yes, it is all so good. Living life this way is a joy. No energy is spent feeling sorry for your self or wishing others or life was different.

My grandmother has seen a lot in her 97 years but her mind doesn’t hold onto much of it – good or bad. She just goes with what is. What she does remember, she remembers as good. Ask her about her children – they are good people. Her husband? A good man. I asked her about her work this evening. I was a farmer. Did you like it? Yes, of course! Why? I asked. Because I got to work hard, she said enthusiastically. What was the best part? On Sundays, they would come and pick up the produce that we picked; that was good, she said smiling. What did you do at night? We slept! she said joyfully.

Hard not to look at things differently or more positively when talking with her. I am so blessed that she can still talk. She reminds me to be grateful, to say thank you, to be happy. This evening, I was with her just about 4 hours and she must have said thank you to me at least 10 times; each time as if she had not said it before and each time felt like medicine for my heart.

When I put her to bed and was reaching over her to fix her pillow, she grabbed onto my neck and pulled her body up to mine so she could give me a strong hug. 97 years old and can barely walk these days but finds the strength to thank me with a power hug! I tell her, that I am so thankful for her. I am who I am because of her – my strength, my kindness, my work ethic and character comes from her. She is always with me. Always will be.

 

Posted by Mia Tagano on Apr 8, 2017


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