but it still hurts esp when i remember, she was the one:
who raised 3 children. then after 8 yrs of marriage, raised them as a single mom (including a set of twins). gave them all an education, a huge feat considering there arent loans, financial handouts in Vietnam.
who helped take care of 9 grandkids when our parents had to work, struggling to survive in a new country. that's alot of kids to pick up after!
who was always there to fed me a second lunch when i came home from school at 2:30PM
who i shared a room with for many, many years before we moved to our own home in the 80s
who thought me how to pray. to say my grandma was VERY religious is an understandment. even after she forgot our names, she still remembered her prayers.
who gave us the most 'li xi' during tet. thanks to my grandma, we would bank $100+. alot of mula for a kid.
who made 'moonshine', which i then later had to dig up after it fermented underground
who sewed bolster vietnamese-style pillows for us
who held my hand during our shopping trips to eden center. my grandma didnt drive, so she depended on family to take her out.
who made us pee in her garden for fertilizer, which drove my parents crazy. my grandma was a PASSIONATE gardener. and i think the hobby kept her young and healthy, way into her 90s.
who gave money to every bum she saw (there was always one in resident at the corner before eden). she grew up poor in a 3rd world country, but was still incredibly generous.
i miss my beautiful, witty, funny, wise, spitfire grandma. the only grand parent i knew.
and i will miss our relationship. i can not recall one argument with my grandma. we just enjoyed each other. that's what makes a grand parent relationhip so special than any others.
i'm so grateful to have known her and will always cherish my time with her. i love you so much Ba. God is lucky to have you now.
