"Farewell, But Not Forgotten" by Ashleigh P.

Grandmas play an important role in our lives, leaving us with wonderful memories that usually

Start at a very early age.  My grandma spoiled me with love, attention, and always giving me compliments.  I will always remember feeling happy when I was with her.  I will also never forget her cooking.  Grandma was Italian!  Most Italians are good cooks!  Although she is gone from earth, she is always in my heart making me smile with all my memories of us together.

  It is Easter Sunday, the year 2004.  It is a warm day and the air is still.  I’m at least five years old and at grandma’s house in Covina, Ca. for an Easter egg hunt with my cousins.  As I walked in the backyard I can see that the dark green grass was taller than usual, and on top lyed colorful eggs.  Just like an egg lying in the nest.  Tons of colorful eggs were on the grass.  Inside the eggs were candy and money just waiting for us to pick them up.

  Since I was the youngest of the grandchildren, my cousins made sure my basket was filled with more eggs than theirs.

  I remember wearing a pink dress with white sandals and  white stockings.  My grandma loved the way I dressed, and from then on, I was called her pink, beautiful, pirate girl.  My grandma always made me feel good with her compliments.

  There was always one egg left to find.  It was “The Golden Egg.”  Grandma always hid this egg good.  I wanted to find it! Where could it be?  What was inside of it?  Grandma came up to me, picked me up and said “Ash my little pink pirate, the Golden Egg is behind the statue.”  I never ran so fast before.  There it was!  A yellow egg.  I screamed “I found it!”  My hands were shaking as I opened the egg.  Inside the egg was a folded up $20.00 bill.  I ran to my grandma shouting with excitement “Thank you! Now I can buy us an ice cream when the ice cream truck drives by.”

  Going over my grandma’s house also meant watching our movie together.  It was “Pirates of the Caribbean.”  I always sat on her lap while we watched the movie together.  This was our special time together.  We had so many laughs.

  Even though we watched that movie well over twenty times, we never got tired of it.  Probably because it meant a lot to both of us just being together.

  I will never forget her cooking either.  Grandma was born in Italy and most of her relatives were professional cooks.  That day she made us a great ham with mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and fresh baked rolls.  She always went out of her way to cook us a wonderful, delicious feast.

  Grandma knew my favorite.  It was a soup called Pastina.  Very simple to make, and I loved it.

She had a bowl ready for me.  Only for me!  I always felt special!

  It is now about four years later and I’m nine years old.  I got very sad when I learned my grandma was very, very sick.  I do remember talking to her over the phone before she went to the hospital.  She said “Ashleigh, be a good girl and never, ever give up.  Always try your hardest.  I love you.”

  I didn’t know that would be the last conversation we would have.  If I did, I would have said more to her.  Would have let her know how special she was to me.  How I enjoyed watching our movie together.

  Hospitals have rules.  I was too young to go in the room.  I remember waiting in a room with my relatives, while everyone else was taking turns going in to see her.  It still didn’t make sense to me.  She was my grandma.  I needed to see her again.

  A few hours later, I got news of her passing.  I remember thinking “Who is going to watch “Pirates of The Caribbean” with me?”  I will never hear “My pink, beautiful pirate girl.”

  In conclusion, I have learned to live life to the fullest with family. Spend lots of time with them and don’t be afraid to tell or show your love to them.  Life is too short!