More Than a Grandma March 25, 2008

by Diana

Ba Noi, my grandma, was always there for me since I was born. While my mother was in the hospital, and my father worked the late-night shifts, she took care of me. She changed my diapers; she checked up on me. She even brought me to my aunts’ house despite their concerns for their carpets, since I was the “puking baby”. She frequently brought up my size when I was a baby, comparing me to the size of her bottle of water, and always mentioned how Co Thu Nga had to order these special little diapers. She was truly a mother to me.

Road Trips March 24, 2008

by Diana

When I was younger, I remember Grandma driving. She took me to so many places. As previously mentioned, she took me to the aunts’ and uncles’ homes by taking the surface streets; never the freeway. We would go to “Wah-maht”, the Farmer’s Market in San Dimas, and frequently, church. We would go to church daily: on weekday mornings, Wednesday night for their special prayer ceremony, and Sundays mass. I just remembered, she even took me to and attended my elementary school band concert.

As I got older, I started to take on her role. It was different this time around, because we weren’t limited to going to local areas, though I am still amazed to how she drove without using the freeways. We went to Walmart still, but we also went to thrift and dollar stores, which she truly adores a lot since she was always at awe with the prices; parks, like the one in La Verne with a nice hiking trail and a cave, and my college’s Wildlife Sanctuary; and of course, church.

Though I did not get a chance to, due to her stroke, my next plan was to take her to the zoo, since she loved animals.

Grandma was more than a grandma to me, she was my driving and shopping buddy. And I’m sure many of the aunts and uncles can agree with, she always loved to talk when she was in the passenger’s seat.

Bless the Holy Water March 24, 2008

by Chu Toan

This was Grandma’s remedy to treat Chu Toan’s gallbladder stones:

I’d told the story but not sure who sent it in…. Anyhow, it was true!!  Grandma sprinkled Holy Water on me at the same time said Hail Mary while I was crawling around on the ground with extreme and very sharp pain!!  X-ray did not find anything but I haven’t  gotten the same pain since!!

Grandpa’s and Grandma’s Passing March 23, 2008

by Nai

I was also out of town the week Grandpa died. When I returned from a camping trip with my class, my dad picked me up from school, which was highly unusual. Normally, I would just walk to Grandma & Grandpa’s house after school. Even stranger, Liz, Irene & Emily were with my dad. When I asked them why they weren’t in school, they said they didn’t feel like going to school. When we got to Grandma & Grandpa’s house, my dad stopped me outside to share the news of Grandpa’s passing. Then we walked into the house. The first thing I did was run to Grandma and she held me while I sobbed into her lap.

I feel strangely disconnected because I haven’t seen Grandma for over 5-1/2 months. It makes me sad that Grandma is gone, but I don’t really think it will hit me until I am back in California.  I am saddened that I can’t be there for the funeral and that I can’t be there with the family.  I am most sad that Evan will never get to meet his great grandma.  I was already having visions of Evan and Grandma meeting when we came back to California for Evan’s baptism.  I imagined Grandma being in the front row of the church at the baptism.  Now instead, she will have a view from above with Grandpa.

Home Remedy March 23, 2008

by Nai

I remember one morning before elementary school, I wasn’t feeling well.  I don’t exactly remember my symptoms, but Grandma’s home remedy was for me to sit in a tub of ice water and then hot water.  It was weird but I think it worked.  Grandma always liked alternative ways of treating health problems.

Khong Chiu March 23, 2008

by Nai

After I started dating Jason, I went out to lunch with Grandma, Jason, Co Bong and I think Emily and Elicia were also there. After lunch, I was walking in the parking lot with Grandma and Co Bong. Grandma then told me in Vietnamese that I should stick with Jason. I didn’t understand what she said, so I told her “khong hieu.” Grandma got indignate and asked me why not. As it turns out, she thought I said “khong chiu” which means “I won’t.” She was upset because she thought I didn’t want to stay with Jason. Good thing Co Bong was there to clear up the misunderstanding. Grandma knew a good man when she saw one. She called Jason “Jay-cee.”

Bathing Suit March 23, 2008

by Nai

When Grandma went to Hawaii with my family, she went to the beach.  She even wore a bathing suit and went in the water.  I think this was in 1988.  Has she been in a bathing suit since?

New Year’s Tears March 23, 2008

by Nai

No matter who said it or what was said, Grandma without fail would cry during the annual Tet speech.  It was very endearing and funny.

Tasty Toast March 23, 2008

by Nai

When I was in elementary school, I used to got to Grandma and Grandpa’s house before and after school.  I remember for a snack, she used to make me buttered toast with sugar on top.  I don’t think I have ever seen that before anywhere else.  I remember liking it.

Prayer and Acceptance March 22, 2008

by Thi-Anh

Great-Grandma Cuc passed away a few days ago on March 15, 2008. She had been battling the effects of a stroke that occurred about 6 months ago and just couldn’t pull through a bout of pneumonia. My grandma and Kannyn’s Great-Grandma was an awesome person. As long as I can remember, she had always supported me whether it be my first communion or my graduation from high school. What’s more special was that she supported Kannyn. She always made sure to think of her. At my baby shower and at Kannyn’s Baptism, she would come up to me and hand me an envelope with money and told me to make sure I got something for her. I could always tell that I always had a special place in her heart along with all my other 25 cousins. Although there were always a lot of us, I never felt as if we were blended. We were each seperate and special in her eyes. Even though I forget a lot of the things that happened in my early childhood, I always have the same flashback memory of my grandma and me. The memory is of her and me laying in her bed and talking. I can picture how the bed was and what wall it was on. I can also picture looking at the closet and grandma laying to the right of me. I had to of been very young, because I was still fluent in Vietnamese and the room that used to be hers is now currently my dad’s. Therefore, I don’t even remember the last time she used that room as her own.