The wind chimes at my Nonni’s house jingled,
The soft clinks echoed through the spring air.
I recall the chuckles of my Nonni.
She laughed with me in her homey backyard.

Freezing hose water splashed against me,
I screamed and giggled.
The cool spring breeze tickled my skin,
But the sun was shining.
It felt like it was always shining at Nonni’s house.

Even when the sky was dark, and rain poured down,
I felt the warmth not from the star in the sky,
But more so, the grandma I’d known my entire life,
Standing right in front of me.
My Nonni was the light during dark times.

She’s always been by my side,
Cheering me on,
Telling me how proud she is.
My Nonni is the sun in my life.

My legs began to sore,
So I sat instead of crouching like my Nana was.
I wasn’t as good at it as her.
But she still told me I was doing good.
Even brought out a stool for me.

I plucked and pulled the weeds,
The hot sun blared on my head,
Warming my dark hair.
My Nana noticed and gave me her hat.
A small action,
Yet one that spoke a thousand words.

She’d made plenty of sacrifices for me,
For my family.
So what was one more?
One more was more than enough,
More than enough for the little girl I was.

My legs still had strength in them,
My head still was strong.
Yet she offered the stool,
For me, instead of herself.
She took the hat off her own head,
For me, instead of herself.

My Nana,
She’s given me more than I could ever ask for, and more than I deserve.

I remember my grandpa Don as a kind-soul.
He wasn’t scared to talk to anyone,
always said hi and bye,
and love you.

I think that he’s where I got my outgoing-ness from.
My opposite fear of social situations.
Something we both had in common.

Sunday night dinners were filled with smiles,
laughter,
hugs.
He always made me laugh, and I always made him laugh.
I think that he’s where I got my laugh from.

A laugh of bliss,
a laugh that’s indelible,
a laugh that’s louder than no others.
That’s how I remember my grandpa Don.
Not sick, or hurting.
Loud and loving.

My grandpa Thy,
Life hasn’t been easy for him,
he’s had his hardships.
yet it doesn’t stop him from being as kind as he can,
as loving,
and as caring as he can.
he has given me the very best he can.

it makes me grieve.

i wish,
i could give my grandpa a day in my life.
filled with laughter,
and cheer,
and being surrounded constantly by people i love.
my grandpa doesn’t deserve anymore days of hard work,
and discipline.

my grandpa deserves easy days,
with no stress,
and no strings attached.
my grandpa thy deserves the very best,
just as he gave me.