Recently, at the annual Thanksgiving gathering at Jesse and Kathy’s place in Ohio, I ended up talking with Jessica, our oldest granddaughter, until 3:56 a.m. I don’t remember what time we began our conversation, but I simply treasure the fact that we were able to enjoy an uninterrupted time together.
Jessica is engaged to be married in June 2024. Growing up, she was not interested in eating at all and, consequently, always skinny. Today, she looks so much healthier, thank goodness! When she talks about her fiancé Noam, she glows. Her genuine happiness makes me so very happy.
As my maternal grandmother always said, “There is one person in this world who is meant just for you.” Jessica sure found the right one!
As her grandma, I have known her since the day she was born at Crittenton Hospital in Rochester, Michigan. The years flew by oh-so fast.
In 2001, when she was about to become 5 years old, her dad (our son Jesse) chose to go to Philadelphia for his master’s degree in finance. And, of course, he took the family with him. I remember feeling deeply saddened by the thought of no longer being able to see her and her little sister, Alyssa, at will.
As if the separation were not hard enough, the 9/11 attack happened shortly thereafter in New York City, which is practically next door to Philadelphia. My heart broke that she was just old enough to vividly remember the experience of the attack. In fact, in her room is a picture of the Twin Towers burning that she drew herself shortly after the attack.
Thankfully, after he completed his master’s degree, Jesse chose to settle down in Ohio, which is much closer to Michigan than Pennsylvania. But I still missed the little girls a lot.
Today, thanks to text messaging, we can communicate instantly with each other whenever we both feel like it. I cherish those moments when I get to do this. I love them so much. It’s hard to believe that they are both grown young ladies already. How true it is that time waits for no one!
Looking back, all I know is that I was determined to come to America and to have an American family of my own – in the land of the free for myself and for everyone in my family for generations to come.
I love America. I love my family. And, most of all, I love my grandchildren. Come to think of it, I think that’s what life is about.
Life is good.
