Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Rest in Peace

My Step Grandma passed away a few nights ago. I haven't seen her in years - since high school. She and my Grandpa moved to California, and never came back.
 
My Grandpa was a Christian Scientist, and she was a Catholic. She was from the Philippines. An odd mix for sure. They met through mail. She was a mail order bride. In this day and age people meet over the internet.
 
My Grandpa had been married 3 times, but she's the only Grandma I knew on that side. My parents encouraged us to call her "Nita" even though all of her family called my Grandpa "Dad". My Grandpa didn't get married to her until after my parents were married. It had to be awkward to them to have someone in their lives that wanted to be called, "Mom". Especially when my Dad had two Mom's before that - one that birthed them, and one that raised them. Culturally in the Philippines they make everyone family. Here it's not that way.
 
My parents were always really nice to her. Accepting, but didn't think of her as, "Mom" and didn't want us calling her, "Grandma". 
 
She played the roll of a Grandma. She gave us rice candy. We thought it was so cool to be able to eat a wrapper.
 
I've always missed her homemade egg rolls and fried rice. Once she made purple sweet potatoes that we joked looked like play doh. We were kids. We weren't culturally exposed very much - except when we were with her.
 
I loved her ornate shirts, and her skin that never seemed to age. I was amazed at how fast she could talk in her native language.
 
We went to ethnic festivals because she had friends that were in them. They had pretty dresses that would twirl around. At their parties they would roast a hog with the hairs still on it. My Dad couldn't get over that one. The craziest memory I have of her was a get together where one of her friends taught me how to hum, and pluck my nose to make notes come out. 
 
My Grandma has been on bed rest, and was only alive because she was given feedings through a tube. It's good that she's at peace now. ‪
 
Even though my Grandpa and Grandma had their differences they did love one another. They both had pretty full lives.

6 comments:

The Cranky said...

I'm sorry for your loss Alissa. Mixed families present unique challenges, but as you realised, they also offer unique gifts.

Masshole Mommy said...

So sorry for your loss. It sounds like they were an interesting couple ;)

Maryann D. said...

So very sorry for your loss. You do have some nice memories of her though.
twinkle at optonline dot net

Eat To Live said...

Awww.... sorry to hear that Alissa. It doesn't matter if she was real blood or not. Sometimes the ones who aren't really related make the best Grandmothers.

Theresa Mahoney said...

Sorry for your loss! I agree with Terry. Blood or not, she was your grandma through and through. My step mom was my "mom" and even called me her daughter. I still claim my step sister as a real sister and shun my real ones lol. It's all about the bonds you create in life.

~ Noelle said...

I remember you talking about her before. I am so sorry for your loss...

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