My grandmother loved my grandfather so much she was always by his side twenty four hours a day caring for him. She had nurses to help her out since taking care of him was a full time job. My grandmother knew putting him in a home would only make him sicker, and she wanted him to have the best she could provide for him in his last days. My grandmother’s role in my grandfather's life has shown me what unconditional love truly is. In the short story, “The Moths”, by Helena Maria Viramontes, a Latin girl is unconditionally taking care of her dying grandmother.
He was born inside of their two bedroom house where my great grandmother gave birth with only a midwife and my great grandpa there by her side. They already had one child, my grandfather’s 3 year old sister Linda, and would have one more son named James two years later. Growing up, my great grandmother was a stay at home mother, while my great grandfather worked as a San Antonio police officer. My papa grew up in a practicing Catholic home, and he and his siblings went to a small Catholic grammar school and church in their town. It was there that my grandfather became an altar boy, played on several sports teams, and met his childhood friends.
It was a big adjustment, he’s been my best friend, my whole life. Although, we did still write to each through letters back and forth, which, gave me and even more love and appreciation for writing. Because, writing was what made it possible for me to still feel close and very cared for by grandpa. We talk about everything big and small in our letters, like his new job as an oil truck driver or even just new books that we both have enjoyed reading. My grandpa also writes me poems, I now have a notebook full of the most beautiful poems from him.
These many conflicts have had a very strong presence in my home and continue to despite my grandpa and his drinking routine no longer being present. My grandpa’s memories have always reinforced me to value what is good in life. From him I have learned to be a decent individual and to try to be my best self. Most of all, my grandpa has taught me to be a sensible person: a person who recognizes all and tries to stay true to himself, a person who is not entangled within his false reality where he is delusional of what is real. I hope to be someone who finds happiness in his own life and by no means resorts to
My grandfather was born in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico in 1938. He came to the United States in 1957. He was 19 years old when he first came to the United States. Later, he looked for a job to start working and he told me he worked at this company called the bookbinder. He went to school but for a while, he said, he never really like school.
I am excited to learn about my family’s history, and even more happy to share. While interviewing my father, he mentioned that his father was from a small village in Poland and moved
From time to time my grandpa would stop to visit and take us to his ranch; those were the good old days. My relationship with my grandfather was unique in a way, sometimes he would be there and sometimes he we would not. He was the closest thing I had to having a grandpa and so I loved him regardless of his absence in my life. I felt no need to judge him and none to question him for the choices he made, he was the father of my father; therefore, I respected him. Thinking back, I remember when he use to take us fishing that must have been ten years ago.
My father lived in many cities growing up because my grandfather worked in the Indian air forces, so he did not have many of the same friends growing up and went many different school. My mother and her friends enjoyed
They fit right in and tried to focus on their schoolwork. At least that’s what my mom and her junior brother did. Her freshman brother didn 't follow that path. He somehow got involved with drugs. It never got too bad, but it was the end of the world for my grandparents.
In those 19 years, my grandfather has helped shape my dad into who he is today. There is no better person to tell my grandfather’s story than my dad. The interview happened is two parts. The first half of my interview took place on a clam sunny afternoon in our kitchen. The second half was at night in the living room.