When I hear the word ‘grandparents’ I notice the beginning of the word, ‘grand’. The word grand is used to describe anything magnificent, and magnificent would be the perfect word to describe my grandparents. For me, spending time with my Maamaa and Paapaa was like escaping reality; when I was with them, cleaning, chores, and having to abide by the rules was the last thing on my mind. All of my responsibilities disappeared, leaving me free to stuff my face with sour gummy worms, jump on the bed, and watch the Nickeloden channel until my eyelids were too heavy to keep open. In their eyes, I was an angel and could do no wrong.
Growing up, I spent most of my week days after school at their house until I reached middle school and then the daily visits turned into weekend retreats. Their presence embraced me with a sense of comfort. The moment I ran through their door I was welcomed with a bear hug and cold glass of sweet tea. I treasure those days spent in that country cottage on Mt. Lisbon Road. There is something magical with the unconditional love I recieve from my grandparents.
Being the fist grandchild, I was entitled to be a tad spoiled but my Paapaa took it to the next level. Seeing that old, red pickup truck coming down my gravel driveway, brought an uncontrolable grin to my face, because I knew a pack of peanutbutter M&M’s were waiting for me in his console. I can hear him now, “Get your rassey in the truck.” He had quite a character to him. In church, my eyes were glued to him as he sang in the choir, with his bottom lip packed full of Talyor’s Pride chewing tobacco. He would chuckle whenever I brought it to his attention. Paapaa had a love for horses and he loved sharing that love with me. Most four year olds, when they ask for a pony, they get a toy pony, but most four year olds did not have a Paapaa like mine.
The Essay on The Use Of The Word Love
Six months after I met a young man, he expressed to me how much he loved me. Being sixteen years old, I thought it to be very flattering but I could not accept him saying this to me. The word, love in the romantic sense, is something that would take so much out of me to say to a person. Love is something that you express to someone that you can not, in any way, see living your life without. The ...
He bought me a solid white pony, that I eagerly named Bingo; since, that was the only word I knew how to spell. Movies about horses and cowboys were his favorite. Nights spents in his blue Lazy Boy chair, snuggled up against his big belly, watching westerns made me feel like the luckiest cowgirl alive. I remember seeing some of my classmates in the candy store after school one day, their parents allowing them to get one peice of candy and my Paapaa buying them their second peice. Paapaa’s generosity not
only towards me, but towards the whole community never went unnoticed. He passed away in October 2012, leaving me with memories I wouldnt trade for gold.
Today at seventy-seven, my grandmother stands 5’2, with perfect posture and carries herself with poise and grace. When I was younger, it was crucial to my Maamaa to teach me proper etiquette and good southern manners. To this day she still corrects me when I’m out of line by saying, “Thats not very lady like Maggie.” Maamaa is also an extrordinary singer and has a great passion for music, whether it be in the choir or not, she is always singing. Although I’m not much of a singer, hearing her voice puts my mind at ease. She puts so much effort in everything she does and is always thinking of others before thinking of herself. Maamaa takes so much pride in her cooking and can cook just about anything. When walking through her kitchen door, you notice the scent of warm, fresh baked bread. Homemade bread and buttered, plum jelly toast is always a “must have” for me when visiting her.
When I was a child, my highlight of the week would be to spend the night at my Maamaa and Paapaas house; as soon as I got there I would jump up onto the plaid couch and ask my Maamaa to read a Bernstein Bear or Little House on the Prarie book. I would leap in her arms and curl up to her with my favorite fuzzy, colorful blanket and would listen with such enthusiam as she read to me. My grandmother and I also share some of the same intrests, we both love to paint our nails, gossip (only when its the two of us), and we both like to talk on the phone. I love the intresting phone conversations with my Maamaa, shes always so glad to hear from me and she makes me feel so special. She is my biggest fan and my best friend. My Maamaa is always so supportive and gives me the right advice for any challenge I may face.
