“This I Believe”
For all of my wonderful childhood memories and more, I believe that my grandparents are two of the most remarkable people on the planet. They have always been there to comfort and support me when times get tough, or just to spoil me rotten. I used to want to live at grandpa and grandma’s house. Their continual doting over me, as well as all of grandma’s homemade goodies, and the weekly trip to Nick’s Ice Cream Parlor with grandpa in tow are some of my fondest memories. Grandpa and Grandma’s house was my heaven on Earth. I never felt more special then when I was in the presence of grandpa and grandma. I have learned so much about life and what’s important from my grandparents. They lived through the Great Depression, and WWII. They have endured the hardships that life brings. They will have been married for seventy years this September, and I pray every day that my marriage will be just as successful as theirs has been. Too often as I have aged, I haven’t gone to visit, thinking I don’t have the time today, as a visit to grandpa and grandma’s is never short. But, life has a way of reminding me of what is important.
It was Sunday afternoon and I was just about to sit down and write a paper for a graduate class. The phone rings, and a woman says, “You don’t know me, but your grandmother has fallen. They are taking her by ambulance to the hospital. Your grandfather would like to speak with you.”
“Dannie, this is grandpa, would you come get me and take me to the hospital?”
“I’m on my way grandpa.” I replied.
This was a moment I had dreaded my entire life. Grandpa and Grandma have always been invincible, but life threw me a curve ball. I now had to take care of the two very people who have always taken care of me. I recall, just prior to the phone call, having a conversation with my husband where I was in tears because our laundry wasn’t all folded and put away, that there were a thousand things that needed to be done, and that I couldn’t get it all done. I was feeling as though my plate was too full. Life has a funny way of putting things into perspective.
I believe that all things happen for a reason. Although I was devastated by grandma’s fall, she helped me once again, by setting my priorities straight. My laundry will eventually all get folded and put away, the dishes will get done, and the thousand other things will too. But all of this is minute compared to the time and the memories that I have with my grandparents.