Sally Kajiwara

 When the word “family” comes to mind, I imagine big gatherings, Sunday dinners, and grandma’s cooking. However, not all families get to partake in those wonderful experiences. I was always fortunate enough to know both sides of my grandparents, from my mom and my dad. However, due to family issues, we stopped communicating with a part of my mom’s side. After countless attempts at reaching out and trying to reconcile, it became a lost cause due to the selfishness and bitterness that came from that side. Unfortunately, my grandparents on my mom’s side got dragged into that problem and we stopped talking to them as well. 

I always loved my grandma. I remember staying over their house for the night with my younger sister and waking up to the sound of crackling bacon and the smell of eggs and rice. We would often spend the day at Chuck E Cheese, and then hang out at the house before getting picked up. My grandma never hesitated to spend money on us, as she often payed for everything when it came to spending time at Chuck E Cheese. That is one of the things I miss most about her; her generosity.

My grandfather, while kind, was also very short tempered. Never physical, but often yelled a lot, but never at us kids. It was sometimes aimed at my grandma, who after decades of marriage, shrugged it off as it became nothing to her. Compassion and kindness was what my grandma radiated. It showed through her loving spirit, even when having to deal with the short temperedness of my grandpa. 

Years after we stopped communicating with them, I took up the sport of football. I started on JV and Varsity. I played in televised games and against state championship teams. One thing I always wished was that my grandma could have got to see me play. In just one game. One game was all I wished for. She passed away around three years before she would ever get the chance to. Before every game, and even after, I always felt a sense of comfort knowing that she was watching, and always had the best seat in the house. Knowing my grandma, she would never take the opportunity to miss out on something like that. 

So, if a neighbor was to ever ask about my grandma, I would delightfully take the time to talk about her generosity, compassion, kindness, and the willingness to show up. That is what made my grandma special, and I can not wait to feel that sense of love when I see her again. 

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