I REMEMBER MY GRANDMA

by Joe Shokrian

My grandmother was very beautiful. Her name was Rebecca Ramirez. She was the only daughter of Gerardo and Josefa Alvarez.   I remember Grandma giving me $l.00 for every kiss she would give me on my forehead. She would protect me from getting spanked by my strict mom when I did things I should not have done. Grandma would help me with my homework and help me memorize my spelling words for the week. She would listen to my stories and everything that happened at school. Everyday she would ask me , what did you learn in school and did you behave today?  Be sure andmind your teachers and your mom.  I remember helping her push her wheelchair and sometimes I would push her fast and she would yell, Joseph , stop that! and laugh. She loved it!  I would bring things for her from the kitchen and help her pick up things she dropped for she was having a hard time walking. I would go with her and my mom to doctor appointments and wait for her. When she would finish seeing the doctor I would ask her how was it grandma? Did you get a shot today? No, mi hijito the only shot I would like is a shot of Southern Comfort Whiskey. That was her favorite drink when she could drink alcohol. We would laugh. She had a fantastic sense of humor and loved life and all her sons and mom. She would often tell me about my grandpa how she missed him, how they met, and the things they would do together. I just loved those times and stories.  When she would get upset she would say a few bad words in Spanish. She never realized I knew them. I remember she could not say sheet very well so she would say sh*t instead. When I told her what she was saying, she then would spell out sheet rather than pronounce it. I remember one joke she loved to tell in Spanish. It was about an old manwho would say chingao all the time. One day this man came to him and told him if he could watch his poor deceased mother lying in state surrounded by 4 lit candles. This is the way people would have their wakes in their homes. Well, the old man told him he could do that . So he sat and sat and watched the old lady lying instate,her arms folded looking quite peaceful. Well, all of a sudden  a huge rat came crawling by and knocked over two of the candles and the body began to burn and he just could not do anything . After the fire was out, the owner of the house came and saw that his poor old mother was burned and his house and he came over to him and told him Didn't I tell you to watch over my mother? Well, the old man could no longer keep from saying chingao so he told him well you see in that chingao hole , a chingao rat came out, and knocked over the chingao candles and burned your chingao Madre. Grandma would say it so perfectly in Spanish and everyone would just laugh and laugh.  When Grandma became very ill one day, she was taken to the hospital and my mom and I sat with her for hours and hours and even spent the night with her. During the night she awoke and told my mom and me that she saw me in a military uniform and that I looked very handsome.  Her congested heart kept getting worse and worse to the point that the nurses told us to call a priest. Father Paulsen came late in the night and gave Grandma the Anointing of the Sick Sacrament. We all gathered around her ; then all of a sudden she sat up, looked at all of us and started to tell us what we were to do after she died. Joseph your job will be to leave me flowers when you can and so forth. She loved flowers.     Then she folded her arms looked at us with big eyes and said well, now what do I do?   I have never died before what do I do next. We all laughed. We could not believe her attitude. Needless to say a few days later she passed away in her sleep. I was in Dallas competing for a first place trophy in my division in TAI Kwon Do. I was 10 or 11 then. Grandma was lying in state and a Rosary was about to begin. I got there on time brought the first place trophy and put it next to her coffin and told her Look Grandma, This is what I won. This is for you. My Grandma looked so peaceful and beautiful in her coffin. The next day my best friend Michael Cortinas and I served as altar servers for Her Mass. My Grandma. I will never forget your. I love  you  so much. She lives in my heart until the day I die.  Grandma and Grandpa I dedicate this story for you both.