To the best grandparents

I am blessed to have been able to know and talk to all my grandparents. I am blessed that my kids have been able to know 3 of their great grandparents. I am incredibly blessed that all of them were Christians who knew God and sook his Kingdom.

But that time is over now. This year, I lost the last 3 of my grandparents, in a span of 5 months. The circle of life got smaller. My connection to the past, to my own past just got blurrier.

When I was a kid, I spent weeks every year at my grandparents, usually with a bunch of cousins. I have so many fun memories from there. But even later, when I was far away, they would still be so glad whenever I called them and they would enjoy talking to me, and then to their great grandkids.

Dédimama (dad's mom) had an incredible memory, still completely lucid even this year, being able to recall so many details about her 84 years of life and about the whole family, going back. She remembered even what medicine she took 40-50 years ago and which ones helped her or not. Guess where I inherited my passion for supplements from. And she made the best pea soup (my favorite soup).

Tata (dad's dad) worked hard all his life. His kids could barely convince him to give away his beloved bees when he couldn't really tend to them anymore. I still don't like plum picking ever since we had to go and help him in the orchard. So many thorns around those plum trees.... But after work, comes the fun, when he would take us to the nearby thermal springs, all of us cousins riding in the tractor trailer.

Bunicu' (mom's dad) was a hustler. I remember his story of how during communist times, he had to scheme and plan to be able to move from the village to the city, in order to provide a better life for his family. He was very disciplined. Up to the day he fell and broke his hip, he tended the small garden in his backyard. He stayed skinny his whole life (too bad I inherited only the height from him, not circumference as well).

Nobody will ever call me "Doru' lui bunica" anymore. On lazy vacation mornings in Sibiu, she would bring me hot cocoa with bread and jam, so I could have breakfast in front of the TV (ok, looking back, not the healthiest way to eat, but she spoiled me). Phone calls with her were always short, because she was always worried that it would cost too much, even though we all have unlimited plans nowadays.

Thank you for all your hard work . Thank you for shaping my parents to be who they are, because that's what got me to where I am. Thank you for the great spiritual heritage you have given me. I miss all of you and I can't wait to see you again in life after life after death.