My Summer Memories

Summers were fun for me.  


My earliest summer memories were spent with my Grandmother at her apartment in Washington, DC.  She was funny, energetic and very charismatic.  I vividly remember this candy wheel with these delicious green soft chew-able candles with sugar crystals on them.  I used to think she kept them for me, but I'm sure they were for everybody.  While I was there, 9am to 5pm, Cousins, Aunts and Uncles would stop by and chat.  I met a lot of family through her.  She was like my family's epicenter.   Don't disturb us between 12:30pm and 4pm because we watched Soap Operas.    Young and the Restless, All my Children,  Capital, One Life to Live and Guiding Light.  It was intense.  We watched in silence and commenting during the commercials.

My Grandfather would come home after he got off work and give me the strongest handshake I've ever had.  He had the biggest heart of anyone I knew.  He worked at the same church he and my Grandmother went to on Sundays.  He was loud and his stomach (think Santa Claus) was so big he couldn't close his legs.  I loved him very much (God rest his soul).  He gave me my first taste of alcohol from his own homemade moonshine!  It was strong, but the peach flavor was my favorite.  My Grandfather could have given me anything and I would have loved it.  Funny how to this day I HATE beer, but love clear liquid (vodka, rum) mixed with fruit juice.

I live in an urban jungle now (New York City) and I have my grandmother to thank for taking me on my first subway ride when I was 8 or 9 years old.  It was magical.  If you've ever seen Washington DC's Metro system, imagine it in the eyes of an 8 year old who loved Star Wars.  

Then I turned 11 y/o and my parents sent me away to camp where I learned how to horseback ride, kayak, canoe, shoot a bow and arrow and a rifle.  That lasted until I was 15.  The year after that, I got a summer job at a movie theatre. After I started my job, I saw her less and less.  I let her down because I never gave her a ride in my car when I got my license.

I found out this weekend that her time on this earth is coming to an end.  We don't know when, but it will be soon.  

I am grateful for my summer memories!  

I love you Grandma!