Things I Observe

On Saturday August 6th I went with my dad and my aunt down to Wooster, Ohio to visit my grandparents in their nursing home. I hadn't seen them for about 4 years, which is a very long time. I've never been close with my grandparents, I never really had an opportunity to either, I didn't see them much growing up. I do remember telling my dad that I liked my grandma's hair, which he proceeded to tell her. Anyway, I had no real expectations for visiting my grandparents this time around. When I first entered the nursing home my mindset completely changed, that is a depressing place, let me tell you. My heart was preparing itself. When we entered my grandparents room, I was a little taken aback to be honest. My grandpa isn't in the best condition, okay, he isn't doing well. He recently suffered from a stroke, so I had never seen him like this. I wasn't exactly sure how to greet him or what to say. I think I mustered up a "hello." I just started to look around the room while my dad and my aunt talked to their parents. My grandparents had really old pictures hanging up all over. I'm always so curious about my dad when he was younger, I love hearing all of his stories. I think the first thing I realized was how important family portraits can be, and the more candid, the better. Below are two of my favorites. 

What I also realized from spending time with my grandparents, just observing and listening, is that they have lived a very full life. Brought twelve children into the world, among many many many other things. Most things I have no idea about. This interested me a lot. I'm only 20, I have approximately 60 more years to live. I have so many things that I want to do in that time. I want to live a full, meaningful, purposeful life. I think my grandparents did nothing short of that. Along with thinking about all of these things I was pretty regretful that I wasn't able to spend more time with them growing up, I didn't get to hear all of their super interesting life tales, or even know much about their personalities. 

So Grandma, Grandpa, if you are reading this, I am really, really sorry about that. But I do love you both and I'm so thankful that you raised my father, because without him I wouldn't be born. So really I do owe you a lot. I would love to hear some of those stories. I have a lot more to say, but I think I'll leave it at that.

I've seen so much life this summer. I learned about people and their experiences of all different ages. Life is an interesting thing. Getting older is just apart of life, but it's pretty fascinating if you think about it.