A Lesson

©2008 Bailey Thompson

When I was younger, my Nana played a big part in my life. She was always there. I looked forward to sleepovers and get togethers with her because she always had something fun to do. Many of my childhood memories included her whether it was going to the beach, garage sales or doing arts and crafts. A few years ago, we started seeing my nana less and less. At first I didn’t really notice because after all she did spend half of the year in Florida. And it was starting to become normal. Years after it all started, the time I saw my Nana was very short and not very often.  I still hadn’t really noticed, until I looked back onto how much time I spent with her now compared to my childhood. I soon figured out why: Nana’s mother was old and kind of sick. So she was spending time with her. I still didn’t know why it was taking so much of her time away from her grandchildren.

            Just this year, I spent less than 5 full days with my Nana. I found that very upsetting considering she lives less than 15 minutes away.  Special events that we’d enjoyed years before were cancelled and forgotten. I really missed our annual girls night out where Nana let my sister and I bring a friend to her house for the night. Soon invitations to come over were declined with an excuse… What happened to the Nana who would do anything to see her grandchildren? Sometimes I wondered if she even wanted to see us… Did she care?

            Last year, I got ready for the brunch I always prepare for my grandparents when they arrive home from Florida. I sent out an invitation and did many preparations. At first it was put off but I didn’t mind. Finally, months after the decline, I called them up asking if they would please call if they still wanted to follow through with it. I never got a call back. Annoyed and upset, I ignored it. Finally when they left for Florida this year, I got a letter from them. Nana mentioned the brunch and also started talking about our Christmases she held in the previous years. Was she feeling the same way as I? Missing our time together? Did she maybe wish it wasn’t this way?

            By now you’re probably wondering why I’m telling you this. I see it as a lesson that needs to be shared: Live your life with no regrets. What I mean is, don’t do things you’ll regret or feel bad about in the future, Something that I can confidently say my Nana is not doing. In a few years when her mother passes away, she might come back to us. By that time all of her grandchildren will be grown up & in college or have families of their own. She’ll have missed out on our childhood. Which will probably become a regret that she’ll probably hold all her life.

By Bailey Thompson

Authors Note: This was not put here to hurt or upset my Nana. Instead to share the lesson.