A Picture of My Grandparents

 Today marks the 73rd wedding anniversary of my Grandma and Grandpa, my Dad's parents. I've been thinking about them more recently. It was my dear sister who became curious and came up with the good idea to learn more about our Grandma whom we had never met or grown up with. She researched more about her life, her family and relatives through relatives of our own, our Dad's cousins and our Uncle who has a lot of information on genealogy. 

I got to know more about her too when my sister would share and tell me things, or forward emails to the family about another interesting response from a relative detailing Grandma's life before she was married or after when 3 young boys to take care of. It was just a few weeks ago that we visited their gravesite again in Santa Clara while we had some excursions in San Jose where my Dad's childhood home is. There just seemed to be so much history in these places, lineage and memories that my Dad, my Uncle and relatives remember and lived through. Being a student at SJSU for my Masters in Library Science is another connection to them and the city where my Dad grew up and where they lived for a number of years.

This genealogy process that my sister was gaining more information on inspired me to create some sort of story. I enjoy the creative process and feel that I more of a fiction writer embedding some real events in different pockets, letting the real and imaginary ooze out together. I've written down some notes regarding facts, places, genealogy and such but haven't come up with anything yet. 

I also am thinking about Grandma and Grandpa as of recent because of their story. They both married later in life (late in those days). My Grandma got married at 30 and my Grandpa was 35 or 36. My Grandma's 2 other siblings were already married with children before she met and married. I think about those details, and I can relate in my own way. I have 2 siblings who both recently got engaged and will have weddings next year! It's exciting, joyful but I can relate in a special and intimate way with Grandma when you're unsure and it can be hard not knowing your own vocation story to marriage when things are happening all around you. 

I recall seeing the wedding picture of my parents, with my Dad's two brothers and his parents. I noticed that Grandma's hand looked as if it were clutching my Dad's oldest brother, Uncle Mike's hand, almost as if she knew was he was perhaps feeling in that moment. He was not married yet, not dating but his youngest brother had just gotten married and my other Uncle was already a Marianist brother. I could sense my Grandma was empathizing with the reality of siblings' lives changing before your own. That really stuck with me. 

I have her wedding band ring and it actually fits. I think of this as a symbol of her presence, her story. I've had it ever since one of my older sisters was getting engaged 9 years ago and she gave me Grandma's band. My mom recently showed me Grandma's engagement ring since I and never seen it before. It was so beautiful with a lovely diamond not too big or small, but the size of the ring looked petite. So special to see these heirlooms!

Sometimes I think that Grandma is calling me to write a story, her story. To use what I have and detail something creative, unique, personal in a way to honor and remember Grandma and Grandpa. I do have quite a few memories of Grandpa since I was around 6, 7, and 8 and we would visit him often and go out to eat at his favorite restaurants with all of us. Maybe I put too much pressure on myself to write something 'good', but all I want to do is tell a story in my own way. 

I love this time of the year, this time of September! And I can see why they chose this date all those many decades ago. I keep them both in my heart and  mind today, and know that they are with me, interceding for me, and holding my hand like loving Grandparents do.