If you are not a parent yet, or have just started having a family. When you hear the word grandparent, what comes to mind? I'm not going to enjoy being a grandparent, that'll mean I am old. I used to think the same way, until I had them

We all have that one meal that brings back memories or that we only like when cooked by a specific person. The meal that you were obsessed with as a kid and if your parents let you it is the meal you would have picked to eat every day. The meal you would either never get sick of or will eat until you became sick of it. The meal that comes to mind for me is my grandmother’s macaroni and cheese with ham. It was my favorite meal as a child and when I eat it now as an adult it brings back so many memories. It is simple and not the most unique meal, but as a child, it was the best meal I had ever eaten.

Pecan Pie was one of my Mémère’s all-time favorite holiday desserts.

Autumn Soup

My paternal grandmother passed away in May 1997, shortly before her 77th birthday, weeks before I married, and only months before my child was born.

I wanted to share this photo to show the first time I've seen my granddaughter in almost 2mos. It's a crazy story but I'm going to tell it... I am the paternal grandmother. The mother of the child doesn't care for me very much for her own reasons; nonetheless, my brave granddaughter who is 1yr-old, survived a near death by drowning in her aunt's backyard algae-filled swimming pool. I was in Europe, on a thirty day study-abroad trip when after only 7days, my son called me with the news. His daughter, my sweet little granddaughter who was only a year-old at the time, had been found lying face down in the pool; her diaper had her afloat.

“Hi, Mr Perkins, your father is in his room.”

I didn't grow up with much, but I was rich in other ways. My cup overflowed from the love my grandma had for me.

Life can be difficult and even when we already know what to do we each need a little boost if keeps us going every once in awhile. We as people have to learn to control our emotions, That can be difficult considering life is hectic sometimes. I learned a long time ago that if we do things that make us feel important, we end up happier for it. You may get stuck at a job that you don't like and that makes you absolutely miserable, but you push through it. Well Here's the thing you don't have to. You don't have to because you're better than that and you don't give yourself enough credit. You see we’re all capable of doing anything we set our mind to. I remember when I was young my grandmother (Betty) told me a story about how she became a Bartender, and how much easier it was back then get a job. Anyway she was actually walking back from the store getting her cigarettes when she saw some lady getting hassled by some guy. Now my grandmother was not a small woman And she wasn't afraid of any man.As she approached them she asked him if there was a problem he told her to mind her business and she said “well I've made this my business so why don't you leave her alone before you have a bigger problem”. After a few seconds he walked away. As it turned out The woman (Sarah) was actually the new owner of the bar she was walking past, And she has no idea how to actually run the bar. She didn't have a bartender nor a bouncer Very much doing it all on her own with one other waitresses. Needless to say That's how my grandmother started working As well as the bouncer. Now over time Betty became a big inspirational role model in Sarah’s life, she boosted her confidence by making her stand up for herself, And if you was giving her Someone to lean on and confide in. We All definitely need someone else to get inspired, to feel alive in my personal opinion anyway. Sarah went on to fulfill her dreams as a song writer and movie producer. I remember my grandmother saying that Sarah actually ended up being an inspiration to her as well, And she decided to better herself so she went back to School and became a teacher. Betty and her wrote letters once or twice a year, and kept each other updated as to what they were doing with their lives, all the way up until Betty got throat cancer and died in 2016. She taught me that life is short enjoy it while you can, make friends, be courageous, follow your dreams, take chances, and LOVE with all you have for tomorrow isnt promised, but more importantly She was always my inspiration!! To be a better person and perhaps if I could inspire just 1 person in the world the way she inspired me, Well that's a pretty inspirational thought…..

I remember being 7 years old and hiding under the rain cover of the hammock in my granny’s garden with my book. I stared blankly at the pages, too upset by my great granny’s nasty words to take anything in. A disembodied head with a kind smile, gentle blue eyes, and cat-like glasses, appeared under the cover.

Bats live under the cedar siding of the cabin, weather and wear having long since left openings just large enough for them to flit through. On warmer evenings, just around twilight, they venture out, small shadows dancing in sharp, sudden movements against the cool purple-grey of the sky.

When I was 20, my grandmother on my dad’s side passed away. I spent my birthday driving from Nebraska back home to Illinois for the funeral the following day. My grandma was easily my biggest supporter in life. At the time, I was in college majoring in music performance on the saxophone. As a part of this degree, I was required to learn the piano and had a year and a half of this study under my belt. Second to the saxophone, my grandma loved listening to me play piano. When she passed, I knew I wanted a dual meaning tattoo; one to showcase my love of music but also one that I could use to memorialize my grandma in some way. I spent weeks image searching potential saxophone, piano, and general music tattoo ideas because I was blanking on a design of my own. I already had a music one I’d designed myself but there wasn’t a way to incorporate it or add a design to help remember my grandma. I finally decided on the heartbeat that blends into piano keys. The more I thought about this one, the more I appreciated how it would showcase my love for music and I considered how I could incorporate some reminder of my grandma into it. I decided on simply inscribing her birthday onto one of the piano keys. I realized that, the more keys I used, the more I could use the tattoo to remember all my grandparents. Once I decided on the tattoo, I was itching to get it done. However, being in school full time, I didn’t have a job or any significant income. My grandma was my main source of money my freshman and sophomore years of college as I never needed much due to living and eating on campus. The longer I waited, the more impatient I got. Then, one day, I received a call from my dad. He explained that I would be receiving a check in a few days for $1,000. The money had come from an unexpected and unknown insurance policy that my grandma had in her name that had suddenly become available. I knew immediately that part of that money would be perfect to finally get the tattoo done. I still find it ironic, but also very fitting, that my grandmother was still somehow able to finance a tattoo that would memorialize her after she’d passed.