I’ve been able to remember many fond memories of my grandparents. Throughout the years, they have all left an impact in a variety of ways that I can’t thank them enough for. 

Starting with my mother’s parents, my grandpa and grandma. Out of all my grandparents, I remember the least about my grandfather. However, we did share three integral traits in common. The first two, on the lighter side, were our love for candy and cartoons. The third was his undiagnosed bipolar disorder. There’s no shame in this. I feel for my grandfather, but in order to understand him more, it’s important to accept that this was a part of him, My grandmother, on the other hand, was a saint. I had many experiences with her over the years, but nothing was more apparent than her overall kindness. She truly didn’t have a bad bone in her body. It was quite annoying at times, but adorable nonetheless. Love you, Grandma.

Then there’s my dad’s side of the family—my yia yia, papou, and thetsa, who acted as a surrogate third grandma. Starting with my yia yia, she was the artist of the family, a phenomenal painter with a sharp sense of humor; she was such a joy to be around. I remember she once drew a Super Saiyan 3 Goku with pinpoint accuracy. I treasured that. Her paintings are placed throughout my parents', sisters', and my new home. My papou, on the other hand, was the man everyone knew in Tottenville. A fan favorite among many, he was an excellent storyteller and a local icon. I remember watching the stars with him on the porch when I was young, talking about the wonders of the world—truly moments I treasured. Then there’s Thetsa—the master baker and the extra grandmother in the rankings. A world traveler and adventurous explorer, she lived a life that most independent women would fawn over. A loving individual but a free spirit. I remember playing basketball with her, even though it would make her so incredibly tired, but she did it out of love. Not to mention, word on the street is she jumped on Frank Sinatra’s car, and we’ll leave it up to the imagination what happened next. You go, Thetsa.

Then there’s Katie’s grandparents, who I’ve considered my own. They’ve been an integral part of my life for just about as long as she has. First, there’s Popo, a strong-willed individual with a wacky sense of humor. Unfortunately, he passed not too long ago, but his last few words resonated with me. For some strange reason, he gave me the approval of doing the Superman at my wedding. Keep in mind, he knew I was a big Superman fan but had no idea that I would actually do that. Then there’s Grandma Katie—my strong, empowered grandma. I’ve had wonderful conversations with her about the prospects of the future. She’s always supported my endeavors, believed in me, and been candid with me when she thinks something is wrong, like a true grandparent should.

Our grandparents help shape the foundation of the future. They give us insight into our parents’ past while providing us with different identities of where we came from. I can’t thank all of them enough for being a part of my life. I will cherish each and every one of them for as long as I can and keep their spirits alive with each passing day.