Grandma Opal 's ' Grandma 's House '

As I begin to recollect past experiences and events growing up, Thanksgiving is the holiday that appears most meaningful. I choose to illuminate Thanksgiving because this is a time when family and friends would forget their worries and differences and collectively came together at grandmother’s house to partake of the Gullah dishes. Furthermore, it serves as a vehicle in stimulating family health and wellbeing, while passing on the identity of the family throughout generations. As I reminiscence, I can recall the air was bursting with love, hugs, laugher and kisses; a sight to behold. Grandmother’s house was small but no one seemed to care as it was inviting. Every area of the house was utilized from the kitchen to the narrow stairway that lead upstairs to the bedrooms. Children were outside playing working up an appetite although there was a chill in the air often going unnoticed, still we were bundled in our hats, coats and mittens. This was not a formal affair but we were all neatly dressed. The house was filled with distinct smells that was heavenly. Steam came from the kitchen as finishing touches were placed on meals. Watching my aunts sweat trying to maneuver in a tight kitchen hoping to avoid bumping into one another was hilarious, but I paid close attention for one day that would be me

“Time moves slowly, but passes quickly.” Alice Walker, The Color Purple. For the main character, Celie, this quote represents so much in her life. The Color Purple is a book with many different hidden messages. They are all lessons learned by Celie throughout her life that she shares.

Dorothy Allison, well-known author and essayist, begins her essay by discussing how she remembers her mother’s gravy and the process of making it, including the pounding of the meat in order to flatten it out. She adds pathos by saying gravy is the “most memory-laden dish” she has learned how to cook and the comfort it brings. Instead of calling it country-fried steak as others normally do, Allison’s mother calls the savory dish cube steak, a more underprivileged name. Allison says, “It was not until I was grown that I understood

One of my favorite memories growing up is waking up on Sunday mornings to the smell of meatballs frying on the stove and music pouring throughout the house. I would run into the kitchen and see my mom standing at the stove preparing for dinner later that day. I can remember my mom trying to ward off my dad and I as we would try to steal a meatball or two off the tray, going on about how “there won’t be enough for dinner!” even though she knew as well as us that there was always more than enough. Soon everyone began showing up, my uncle always with fresh bread from the local bakery, and it was finally time to eat. We would all gather around the dining room table, say grace and dig in. First the antipasto, which

We started sharing even more stories about how we loved foods that grandmothers made that you found amazing because of the “baked with love” moment you have for them. She explained that her grandmother was a very beautiful lady with sophistication and class. “No matter how she looked I always stared into her eyes so bright and blue.” Caroline then

Shortly after our visit to the Lofgren’s, I married my fiancée, which concluded my six-month long residence with my grandmother. Subsequent to my moving out, Grandma resided alone in her house for several years and on nearly every Sunday, “just in case someone might drop in after church,” made a delicious roast beef dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy. During the first years of our married life, Kathy and I frequently dropped in after church to dine and visit with my endearing

Everyone goes through rough patches in their life. Some of these patches are easy to accomplish and easy to get over. Our medicine has gotten better over time, but years ago the survival rate wasn’t that good. My grandma whose name is Linda is a breast cancer survivor and also survived with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Not everyone in this world can say she has have survived cancer this many times, especially with such low survival rates. My Grandma still puts a smile on everyone faces even when she’s in pain. She makes all of her children and grandchildren beautiful quilts, so we can have something to remember her by, if something were to happen. She loves to bake. There isn’t one occasion that there won’t be some type of desert made by her. She has so many beautiful talents.

Much like Helene Tucker, she is caring and compassionate Her life is an example of perseverance and strength. Her life is an inspiring one, she has always exuberated encouraging energy towards others. She supported me in all aspects of my life and believes in my abilities to accomplish my goals. All endeavors throughout my grandmother’s life have been symbolic of her success. Her hard work and perseverance represent true success to me.

A Lot of people may love shopping or going on long walks on the beach or even go on amazing adventures, but one of the most enjoyable things I love to do with my family is eating. I could eat for days or even months. Every holiday I never miss my mother’s homemade tamales, especially Thanksgiving. Just when I take a bite, the tamale breaks apart in my mouth. When my mother makes home made burritos,the rice and the beans just taste super delicious and the cheese melts right in my mouth. Sometimes my mother would make some menudo with lots of love in it. I would put some lemon juice to make it sour and onions to give it that flavor.

My grandmother’s parents immigrated to Johnstown, Pennsylvania from a small town in Poland close to Warsaw. As a young child she spoke two languages Polish at home and English when she went to school or with friends. Life started out very difficult and never really got any easier.. Her life continued to get worse when she lost her husband in a mining accident and her eldest son to a car accident. My grandma used to tell me the stories of their deaths, and how it taught her how strong she really is. She turned the hardships in her life into something beautiful, something joyous, and something sentimental. These moments shaped her into who she is, but they do not define her. These moments that she shares allow me to move on and find something joyful about every situation even if they are not be ideal. When my grandfather passed away my grandmother gave me the strength to look on the brighter side of the situation instead of the sad side.

One hot, sunny day, as I was spending time at my grandmother’s house, she and I decided to go to Kroger and pick up a few grocery items. As we maneuvered throughout the busy store, we noticed the pork chops were on sale. Knowing that pork chops are my favorite food, my grandma decided to purchase them and go home and cook. She chose two packs of the pork chops with the least amount of fat on them. We also purchased a box of macaroni and cheese and a few other grocery items to finish off the meal.

One afternoon, during an unexpected visit from Opa Taco and Oma Tine, our presence downstairs was requested when they rang the doorbell upon their arrival. Wondering what was going on, Ellen and I hurried to the street level to find our grandparents standing in the common entryway, holding the front door to the outside

The familiar smell of soft cookies and homemade cooking are common thoughts when people think about their grandma's house. Great feasts and family gatherings play a part in everyone's grandmother's home. But when I really think about my grandma's house only one word comes to my mind: fun.

My grandmother, Esther Turner, has impacted my life in more ways than just simply being there for me, as a grandmother. She’s much more than that, in my eyes. Being the eldest of three, I’ve always taken on more responsibility as the older sister. It was my job to show my little brother and sister which paths were safe to take in this wild, confusing maze called life. At times, I felt like a mother myself, and at a young age, I found myself slightly intimidated by all the responsibilities that were laid on my shoulders. The main person I could talk to freely and openly, without judgment, was my grandmother. We have always been able to speak to each other about any and everything, nothing was off limits. That’s what I think brought us so close, the fact that she accepted me entirely for the person I presented to her.

Some of the many memories I carry with me every day of my grandmother are the holidays when we used to get together. I remember Thanksgiving and Easter most of all. On Thanksgiving the entire family would come together for dinner and then we would all stay at her house for the night. I remember this so well because we would wake up the next morning to the smell of breakfast and all the ladies would be gone shopping to the "After Thanksgiving Sale".