When I See the Sun Shining

LIFESTYLE

When I See the Sun Shining…

THE LESSONS I’VE LEARNED FROM MY GRANDPARENTS

Written by Jessica Katz, Online Editor Graphic by Nicole Glesinger, Contributing Graphic Artist

My grandma is my best friend. She has been by my side since the day I was born. When I was supposed to start daycare, she quit her job to take care of me. She thought it was better for me to spend the day with family than with strangers in an unfamiliar environment. When I started preschool, she picked me up every day and took me to our favorite spot: the “Blue

Park.” The moment I saw her through the door frame, I’d sprint over and wrap my tiny body around her legs.

As I grew older, I had less time to spend with my grandparents, but it was important to keep them in my life. Every once in a while, my grandma and I would go shopping or grab some food and catch up. She’d ask me about boys, gossip and school. She always told me how she’d rave about me to her friends at the synagogue.

My grandpa is my biggest fan.

When I was a kid, I appreciated his positivity. He’d often joke around with me and my brother. He kept toys in his house, which I suspect was because he knew we’d enjoy them.

My grandpa may be opinionated, but he embraces all with open arms. He sparks conversations and he’ll crack a couple of jokes to genuinely get to know the people he meets and make them feel comfortable. Every time I speak to my grandpa, whether over the phone or in person, he says the same thing—“Jessica, you know your grandparents love you very much, right?” He knows just the thing to say to make me smile.

I’ve always had a deep admiration for my grandparents, for the way they would do anything and everything for those they care about. They constantly express how lucky they are; my grandpa explained that his life is “heaven,” but they’ve made many sacrifices to get to where they are now. My grandpa grew up in Russia, and he didn’t have it easy. In his 20s, he moved to Israel to be a paratrooper in the military. “The first time I got a big bruise on my behind because I was afraid to jump,” he explained. “But later on, after 36 or 38 jumps, I grew from that experience. I learned to be tough.”

After that, he and my grandmother took a risk and immigrated to the United States in hopes of creating a better life for themselves and their future family.

My grandma did not want to move and leave behind her large family in Israel, but she made the sacrifice for her husband. “I didn’t have anyone here,” she said. “ It was just the two of us. And at first, I was miserable, but I stuck through it and everything worked out. I had a good husband, a good new life and I found so much joy in my children.”

My grandfather did not take a break. He dove straight into college, earning a degree in engineering and continuing on to achieve a successful career. When he looks back at his life, he feels proud of the life he and my grandmother built for themselves and their family. “I’ve seen a lot of negatives, so now when I see the sun shining, it’s beautiful and the people in my life, my family, make my life a lot happier,” he said.

What has made me who I am today is not only the life my grandparents have created for me but the hardships they faced and the sacrifices they’ve made on their way. They risked it all—from my grandma’s job to their lives in Israel— for my family. For me. And for that, I’m thankful and eager to give back all that love and care.

I aspire to be like my grandparents, both of whom have shown me endless love—that if you love someone, you always show you care. From their stories, I learned that even in moments of uncertainty, when life feels out of your control, there is always a reason to move forward. It was the two of them against the world, and they made a heck of a life out of it. ■

I aspire to be like my grandparents, both of whom have shown me endless love—that if you love someone, you always show you care.