Joined: 6/22/2009
Posts: 12

This is the first topic on grandparents I am be submitting on this new and exciting site. Thanks for the opportunity. I look forward to your feedback and hope you enjoy!

Where better to begin than on some of my recollection of my father's mother. She was 'Mamou' to me. She seemed quite old (in reality all of about 60) and she wore nylon stockings and dresses and her hair was always, well, arranged. Of all the people who I have met over the years, which numbers in the tens of thousands, she sticks out as the one who was the best. She had no judgement about other people, or at least she never expressed any. No one could have been more supportive of every interest I ever had. She taught me everything from how to grow grass (the lawn variety) at the age of four right through to how to properly serve afternoon tea (at the age of 14).
So what were the magic ingredients that made her 'Rock'? One, she was genuine. You always knew where you stood with her. Two, I saw her occasionally, not all the time. This made our visits very special. Three, she provided me a much needed escape from an abusive household. She was a safe haven. Four, she provided a balance to a high-profile fast-paced life. She taught me not only how to tie my shoes but that everyone puts their pants on one leg at a time.
To have a close personal relationship without a seemingly egoless family member is a blessing. To all you grandparents reading this, be that person. To all of you who are grandchildren (I guess that makes all of us), look for that special person in your life and cherish them.
They won't always be biological family members and there is no limit to how many you can have. The corollary of this is that you can be that 'grandparent' to one heck of a lot of people. I think that we would make the world a better place in which to live and along the way we will instill respect for our fellow humans in all whose paths we cross. Let's Rock!