Always There for You | Teen Ink

Always There for You

November 22, 2013
By Shadae Tate BRONZE, Hannah Court, Georgia
Shadae Tate BRONZE, Hannah Court, Georgia
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

I would walk in to see a big smile on her face as I said hey; she would be in her chair saying whatever she feels without a care in the world; I will always remember the times I visited Gramps, my great great grandmother. Every Sunday after church my grandmother and I would go to give her company and help her with anything else she need. I know even though there were many people in the nursing home with her she felt lonely and always enjoyed hearing her families’ voices. Gramps was a go to person for the family with a lot of knowledge about the world. She would always give you the advice you needed at the right time even though it may have hurt your feelings, it was the truth. My grandmother and she used to argue all the time. Many of the reasons for their dispute were because Gramps spoke her mind; I thought it was hilarious. As young as I was I thought everything was funny. As we walked in you could smell a distinctive odor throughout the building. I just thought it was the smell of old people but as I look back maybe it was the smell of lonesome, pain, or the brink of death. Even though she was blind you wouldn’t be able to tell how she felt about her condition. She never showed the smallest hint of a defeated attitude. Gramps may have been one of the strongest women I have met in my life to endure traumatic event and willing to be independent and do many things on her own. She wasn’t in the nursing home because of her disability, but the aging of her body. Gramps endured many obstacles but yet came out smiling like she was champ and somehow she knew everything was going to be alright. My immediate family and I soon moved to a different state. It was hard not seeing Gramps every week; I would pray she would be alright in the nursing home. Suddenly Gramps passed away. It was much unexpected; she wasn’t sick or had any medical issues at the time. It was just her time I accepted and believed she was in a better place. Many of my other family members took it hard especially my mom, grandmother, and my great grandmother. They were the ones that grew up with her. My heart mourned for them and I never want to see them in that emotional state again. We went back to the town she died in and had the funeral and family gathering. Everything went well and the presence of our family together helped each one of them in their grieving. We soon returned home and a few days after her passing I had a dream. In the dream there was a hall with many doors on each side of the hallway. Behind the door were bad influences such as drugs or other malevolent activities. Gramps kept me away from the activities. Somehow even though she was gone she was still helping out her family in any kind of way even if she was just an image in my dream. I believe the love ones that pass are always watching over us and will always be with us in our brains, in our hearts, in our soul. They are never actually leaving but living with us also as a memory.



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This article has 1 comment.


shayne said...
on Nov. 26 2013 at 8:20 pm
I thought it was amazing and touching! This has been a heartfelt story, a nice positive look on life and even death.