New Year, Old Memories

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Mandy C., age 18

Dedication: Hi po po, thank you for making me who I am today.

 

As the car rounded the hill, I began to feel my eyelids getting heavier. I looked out the car window at the clouds in the bright blue sky. I felt so tired. The past few days were spent cleaning the house and preparing for Lunar New Year. We’ve been going to sleep so late every night and waking up early the next that I wasn’t sure what day it was anymore.

It was Sunday, the day after Lunar New Year, and we were still celebrating with family. We had just gone out to eat dim sum with my grandpa (公公gung gung) and grandma (婆婆po po) and were headed back to their house.

I rested my right elbow on the armrest and let my head fall into my hand. As I felt my eyes shut, I felt my po po’s hand tug on my puffer jacket, grabbing my arm and pulling me into her arms and chest. She said, “Here, sleep on my arm,” in Taishanese, a Chinese dialect. My po po doesn’t speak English as she had immigrated to the U.S. later in life, so the only language we shared was Taishanese.

I was taller than my grandma now, so it was hard to lay on her comfortably. My neck was strained against her shoulder, but I don’t remember the last time I was this close to her. I missed being by my grandma’s side. Growing up, I always stuck by my grandma, wherever she went, I went. My grandma was the caretaker in our family. She helped raise my brother and I, as well as my eight cousins. I was the youngest out of us all.

My grandma is a petite woman. She is seventy-eight and has short black hair with white strands running throughout. When she smiles, it was one of those big toothy grins where her face would light up and her eyes squint so you could see all of her wrinkles. When I see my grandma, I would remember her crimson colored cardigan with two deep pockets in which she held candy and tangerines. She always carried tissues in the pockets of her pants (because kids are very snotty).

My grandma, who would still sneak me candy and tangerines when no one would be looking. My grandma, who offered to stitch up my ripped jeans because she thought it was ripped on accident when it was a style choice.

My grandma, who I bonded with over knitting.

My grandma, who always has hot soup cooking on the stove.

My grandma, who sends us home with bags of food every time we visit.

My grandma, who has undying love for all of her grandchildren.

My grandma, the most hard working and caring person I know, I appreciate you.

And I love you the most.

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