In July 2022, I moved back to my grandparents’ house, thinking it would be temporary.
After a decade away for college and work, I saw it as a reset before finding my next place. My plan was simple: settle into my new job, find an apartment, and move out. But what I thought would be a short stay became one of the best decisions of my life.
We’ve always been close
I’ve always been close to my grandparents. As the oldest grandchild and only girl, I was their baby. Even when I lived far away, I visited during the holidays, always staying at their house. No matter how much time passed, being with them felt like home.
My grandmother was excited when I moved back. Before I moved, she called to ask, “What color do you want your room?” She insisted on personalizing my bedroom. I laughed at the thought of being in my 30s and having my grandmother decorate my room, but we settled on pink, which is my favorite color.
It was about the simple joys of life
Living with my grandparents wasn’t about big adventures but about small, simple joys.
Each morning, my grandmother asked, “Do you want grits and eggs?” even though she knew the answer was always yes. Cooking was her love language, and making sure we had a hot meal brought her joy.
But Saturdays were for Cracker Barrel. She loved the Grandma’s Sampler Breakfast, and we went every weekend. My mom often joined, turning it into a family tradition. I used to joke that I was tired of Cracker Barrel, but she never budged.
Looking back, I’m so glad she didn’t.
These outings weren’t just about the meal. She loved picking out greeting cards and taking her time to find the perfect ones. She often wrote me notes in them, reminding me how much I was loved. I still have them all.
At the time, I didn’t think much of these routines. Now, they mean everything.
My grandmother died
I moved home thinking I had all the time in the world. Exactly two years later, on July 31, 2024, my grandmother went into the hospital while I was at a conference. That night, we learned the diagnosis: stage 4 cancer. We had just 30 days left with her.
One month. That’s all the time we had to squeeze in every conversation. How do you say goodbye to someone who was just here?
Now, it’s just me and my granddad. Our routines have changed, but I treasure them just as much. Every morning, he wakes me up with the same phrase: “Don’t sleep too long, you gotta get up!” We take drives, talk about life, and share stories from his childhood and his journey to Chicago in the 1960s.
He always tells me how proud he is of me, and I hold on to it a little tighter each time.
Living with them changed my perspective
Before moving home, I was always focused on what was next: chasing my career goals and personal milestones and constantly checking boxes. But these past two years have changed my perspective.
I’ve learned that success isn’t just about moving forward but about being present. It’s about realizing that the little moments we often overlook are the ones that matter most.
My grandmother always told me, “Do everything from a place of love.” That’s how she lived, and I carry that lesson with me every day.
If I could go back to 2022, I’d tell myself to take it all in. I’d sit with my grandmother for just one more conversation. I’d let her drag me to Cracker Barrel more than once a week. I’d hold on to every moment a little longer.
But since I can’t, I do the next best thing. I cherish every second with my granddad. I listen to his stories, laugh at his jokes, and show up because one day, these will be the moments I look back on, just as I do with my grandmother now.
