In spring semester last year, my grandma passed away, and right after finals week, my family and I flew to my dad’s hometown in Hawaii for the funeral service. Each of us grandchildren was tasked with writing a remembrance about our grandma that I shared at the service. With Mother’s Day coming up in May, I’m writing this article as an addition to the remembrance I wrote as I think about my grandma and the love she shared with me and my family.
My grandma lived in Hawaii for most of my life, so I didn’t grow up in the same state as her. Most of the memories I have of her are from our family’s yearly visits to the Big Island or the handful of times she came to California. So, I ended up writing about the gifts she always sent me. While there were so many memories I could’ve chosen from, I wrote about this specific gift because it highlighted exactly what I wanted to about my grandma: she made me feel like I was only walking distance away despite the ocean between us. This gift was the gift of new shoes.
I’ve heard the saying that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. However, growing up, my best friends were not diamonds, but new shoes. My grandma would send my parents money to purchase new sneakers before the start of every school year. Shopping for new shoes would be part of the back-to-school routine that I always looked forward to. When I was in elementary school, I always picked the sparkly sneakers that would light up, thinking I was such a cool kid for wearing them. I felt these shoes were magical, just like Grandma, as they shined like her smile and her kindness. She made each one of my family’s trips to Hawaii the happiest memories for me. In my remembrance, I ended saying that even though I’ll no longer be shopping for the shoes she always got me, I’ll always hold her memory and love in my heart with every step I take.
Here’s the addition I’m making to my remembrance: looking back, I realize that my grandma not only gifted me new shoes, she also gifted me an experience that I continue to share with my mom today. She was making sure I had new shoes before the school year, but she also provided me with an opportunity to spend time shopping with my mom. Every time I return home for break, my mom and I pick at least one day to go to the mall together. On top of that, my grandma from my mom’s side of the family (who we call “Nana”) also loves to shop. So now, every trip to the mall, whether it’s buying new shoes or clothes, becomes a fun experience I get to share with both my mom and Nana.
I’m forever grateful for the love in my life from my family. My grandma was truly the kindest person you could ever meet. There were so many memories I could’ve chosen to write about her. One example being that on every last day of my family’s trips to Hawaii, she’d always cook us breakfast. Another example is how she used to be an elementary school teacher, and just like elementary school, she’d still send out cards for different holidays like Halloween and Valentine’s Day. This started when I was little and continued even when I became a college student. Every memory I have of her is proof that it’s the little things that can matter so much. All of her acts of love and kindness have passed down a real gift — experiences I get to continue to share with the people I love. I’ll forever cherish my memories of her. I miss her and will think of her and this Mother’s Day as I celebrate my mom, Nana, and all the amazing experiences I’ve had and will continue to have with them.