A Tribute to Grandma

My daughter called me one Friday afternoon and asked if I could pick my

granddaughter up from school because she was running late. With in seconds, I

was in my car and headed towards my granddaughter’s school. I sat in the parent

pick up line and waited for that beautiful little face to appear. One of the greatest

joys in life is becoming a grandparent. And while I waited for her to exit the

school, I began to think about my own grandmother and how excited my sister

and I would get when we saw her car pull up to our little house on Kent drive on

Friday afternoons, coming to take us away for the weekend.

It would all begin with a trip to the local IGA. With cart in tow, my

grandmother would guide us through the store and tell us, “get what ever you

want.” My sister and I would make a mad dash to isle 4. That was the cereal aisle.

My grandmother encouraged us to each get our own boxes so we were certain to

get exactly what we each liked. With a cart full of all of our favorite foods, we

would leave IGA and head for Toys ‘R’ Us. She would let us each pick out a toy so

we didn’t get bored during our weekend stay. Last, she would stop and order

Chinese food or a pizza, or fried chicken from Spicey’s Chicken in Bellport. They

had the absolute best fried chicken, to this day, I have ever had.

After bringing in our over-night bags, groceries, toys, and takeout food, the

fun had just begun. My grandmother would have play dough sets, coloring books,

water paints, paper dolls, games. All set up on the dining room table. After we

spent hours coloring and playing, she would set us in front of the television with

our dinners on snack trays and let us watch our favorite programs while we ate.

She would put us in the bathtub and fill it with bubbles and toys, and after

we were in our pjs, she would make up our bed. She used fresh linens and lots of

pillows. But, before we went to sleep, the 3 of us would sit around the kitchen

table and play gin rummy. My grandmother’s house was warm and cozy and full of

love.

When my granddaughter exits her school and sees my car in the pick-up

line, a big smile beams across her face. A big smile beams across mine too. The

day I became a grandparent; I had already decided what kind of grandparent I

wanted to be. I wanted to be the grandmother that makes you feel special. I

wanted to be just like my grandmother.

Our grandmother passed away peacefully on Tuesday August 4, 2026. And

although she is not here in body, her spirit will always, and forever be in our

hearts. Love you Grandma.

-Desiree