My Grandma is Cooler Than Yours
I grew up with my Grandma living with my family. Now, maybe that’s made me biased, but I’m pretty confident when I say that my grandma is cooler than yours.
My Grandma divorced my granddad when my mom was in college. I never really knew my granddad, but that was okay with me because Grandma filled my life with enough joy to take the place of any other grandparent. I never knew my dad’s parents, either. But Grandma filled those holes, too. She filled them with encouragement and laughter and strength and faith and all the good things a grandparent should be, and so I never wanted for grandparents. She was always enough.
One of my favorite things about my grandma – aside from her love of books which is our greatest bond – is her love of travel. Just about every summer after she retired, Grandma took an international trip all by herself. She has been all over the world multiple times, and she goes boldly all by herself. In fact, she and my mom just got back from almost a month in Italy! When each of her four grandchildren graduated from high school, we got to pick anywhere in the world we wanted to go and she took us. I went to Ireland for 10 days with her. I will never forget her, in her 70s at the time, crawling out on the ledge of a castle and kissing the Blarney Stone. She also took me to a pub and let me order my first beer. I have a terrible memory, but I remember just about every detail of that trip vividly, and I’m positive that’s because she made the trip so memorable.
I love my grandma for so many reasons, but at the top of that list would be her determination. Don’t tell that woman no. If she wants to do something, she is going to do it. She’ll tell you that she can’t make a decision to save her life (and that’s true…we all know it…), but for as long as she takes to make a choice, once she’s made it, she’s going to stick to it. If my grandma commits to something, she’s going to be there. If my grandma says she’ll do something, she’s going to do it. And if one of her grandchildren asks her to do something, she’s going to do it.
Which is why when my family was swimming in our pool this past weekend and Bean yelled out, “Grandma, jump in like me!” I started to worry. Because my grandma is not the kind to say no. She’ll try anything once. Even jumping into the swimming pool at 84-years old.
She stood there for a minute, thinking. Just staring at the water.
“Grandma,” I called out. “Don’t do it! Just use the steps!”
And still she stood there, hesitating and staring at the water. All while Bean egged her on. “Jump, Grandma! Jump!”
“No, Grandma!” I warned. “You don’t have to jump in!”
And then she snapped at me, “Just be quiet now! Let me think about this!”
And before we knew it, she did it!
She tells me all the time that it’s hell to grow old. But every time she says it, I think to myself, “How in the world would you know????”
18 Comments
Erin R.
Awesome!!!!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Andie
Awww. I love your grandma!! And yes…she is cooler than mine sadly. I would LOVE to do the things she is doing at her age especially travel.
Diane
I think you definitely have a cool grandma. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Jen @ Ginger Guide
Your grandma is pretty freaking cool! It’s so awesome that she gets to know her great grand kids. I wish my Irish grandma could have known Sullivan. They have the same temper. She’s been gone 7 years and I still miss her like crazy.
Mindee@ourfrontdoor
You’re right. You do indeed have the coolest grandma.
Sarah H.
All my grandparents lived in the Midwest while I grew up in Maryland. I got to see them about 1x a year, so I always think it’s awesome when people have such great relationships with their grandparents! Great story.
Tawny LaQuay
“Just be quiet now! Let me think about this!”
LOVE IT!
Reminds me of my mother.
Peggy
I agree with Mindee. You DO have the coolest Grandma EVER!
Lindsay
Love this! So great! 🙂
Ann @ Such a Mama
Doesn’t get much cooler than her! Bean and Gracie are very lucky! I wonder where she will take them when they graduate high school. I have no doubt that she will be still be traveling the world!
jamie
geez {your family} just keeps getting better
Suzanne
I LOVE this post!! Your grandmother is awesome!
and it made me miss mine SO much. I’m so glad for grandmothers 🙂
Lindsey
HAHA this is adorable!!! I love her!
Jenna
Uh awesome!!! Reminds me of my Mema! 🙂
Tabs
I’ve kissed the blarney stone too!!
Kinda gross when you actually stop to think about it. 😉
momiss
HAHAHA!! Hands down, coolest Grandma evah! Love this post!
Bronwen@Bronwenreads
I love it! When my Granny was 83, we were joking around and my sister started singing “Hey Granny. It’s your birthday. Shake your boom-boom.” And she said (in her English accent), “What’s a boom-boom, darling?” and then she shook it!! I miss her.
Ashley @ A Recipe for Sanity
That made me smile! I certainly hope that I live to be 84 (or older, God willing!) and get to play with my great-grandkids!