“Grandma always made you feel she had been waiting to see just you all day and now the day was complete.”  Marcy DeMaree

“One of the most powerful handclasps is that of a new grandbaby around the finger of a grandfather.” Joy Hargrove

What is it about it about grandparents that make them so precious and dear? Perhaps because they don’t possess the disciplinary, buzz-kill aspects of a parent or the occasionally grating irritation of a sibling. Grandparents are the saints of all relatives!

My grandmother was everything divine, sweet and soft. She never cursed and she made her tea with lots of milk. She hummed old Church tunes while doing the dishes. She smelled of all things Avon. Her hairbrushes were very serious affairs, with elaborate etchings of horse-drawn carriages on the back. She woke up at the crack of dawn every day.

My grandfather was feisty and unbridled. He challenged all of his grandchildren to punch his big belly as hard as they could, laughing the whole time. He’d mercilessly make fun of Lawrence Welk (much to my grandmother’s chagrin; it was her favorite show). He smelled a soapy clean and his face felt rough to the touch. He called me “Little One” in this sweet, sing-songy voice that I can still hear as plain as day.

What memories of your grandparents do you hold dear? What did they instill in you?

If you’re lucky enough to have your grandparents around, make sure you send them a Grandparent’s Day e-card. They love to be acknowledged for their special contributions, which are truly one-of-a-kind.

Grandpa and Grandma Penguin ready to shower you with love.