In dedication to a very important ceremony today that I will not be in attendance. I have left a few words that I wanted to share with my family and in dedication to Lena. It has taken me a few days to formulate constructive sentences around my feelings about the passing of my grandmother. Grandparents pay a very keen role in development of our youth and Im extremely grateful that I was blessed to be able to have a relationship with my grandmother. As I was reliving the memories abroad I continued to recall the single most important events that took place between Lena and I. I believe the first moment was when I was nine, I sat at the window, counting the numerous cars going by, agonizing over my boredom. I found it odd that for sometime I would be the only grandchild with grandma every single weekend but I guess I should see at as a blessing now because we shared countless memories. I can tell you now my quick witted reactions and sharp tongue definitely come from her as I sat and watched her speak on what she saw out of her small dining room window. She has a passively aggressive manner towards expressing what she felt was right or wrong. Her tone and manner became part of my tone and speech. She always had a story to say or at least a faint reaction to what was taking place outside on Palm Avenue. One evening, I sat there pondering about love and romance, I turned to my grandmother and asked her to tell me how she met grandpa. The sparkle in her eyes showed me that she was astonished that I would even ask such a question, but also intrigued by the fact that I was so fascinated and eager to hear what she had to say. She turned to me and began to tell me how they met on a porch out in some small town of Tennessee. She mentioned that he was from a different town and was living with a family or something to that nature. I then began to ask so did you guys go on a date, did he pick you up in a car? Did you even have cars back then or was it on horse? She laughed, got up to the kitchen to grab her a slice of seven up cake. She sat back in her familiar chair at the far end of the dining table and started to answer my very persistent questions. When she spoke of her history and her experiences I could tell that she enjoyed sharing these memories and all the better I enjoyed listening. That moment was when I began to ask her many questions about her family and where we came from. The last time I sat with her, I video recorded our conversations about her family history. She had that same sparkle in her eye when she looked at me. As though I was still that nine year old girl sitting at the corner of her dining table eagerly desiring answers to a past untold. Grandma, I hope that you are looking down and watching me discover that past that I promised I was going to find for us. Ive made it thus far to Europe as promised. I want you to know that I will carry on with discovering our lost heritage and I wont let your stories fade in vain. You shared with me your wisdom as I found faith and love in your spoken history. Thank you for being the culture that I clinged to. Your formidable actions and calm poise never changed even when I agitated your entire existence. I often fought with you on many things but none that we didnt find joy from, except my hair. Lord knows I terrorized you. You are of complete humility and strength, the embodiment of a role model. You taught me that the greatest pride and joy is watching history unfold. As I sit here next to the Lady Pillar of Zaragoza while Jesus peacefully hangs gracefully over these golden painted walls, I feel your presence surround me. This is your humble abode, your center of peace. May we all honor you by allowing your story to continue through us and with us for generations to come. May we cherish your presence with us as to each of our individual memories bring praise and joy. I ask that we find ourselves amidst the beauty of your creation and pride ourselves in our history as they are your stories and experiences that led us to be. You are our Van Gogh as we are your Starry Nights. May you rest knowing that you have made an imprint on all of our souls.
Posted on: Sat, 24 May 2014 13:42:02 +0000
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