Da Hughes Ohana
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Wednesday, July 14, 2010

My inspiration

 GRANDPAR

GrmaGrpaBen

My grandparents.  They raised my sister and I, long after they had raised their own children.  I think of them all the time, and of all the struggles they went through.  My grandpa came to Hawaii to work during the sugar plantation days, and left his family to start a new life.  A few years later, when he finally was able to save enough money, he sent for his wife and young son.  I remember grandma telling me how she didn’t know what to do after she got off the boat, she just held my uncles hand and followed another lady until she finally found my grandpa.  They spoke Ilocano, could barely read and write more than their own names, and still managed to move away from their country to start a new life, buy a house, settle down.  My grandma lost 2 children to malaria before moving to Hawaii, and then a 3rd one later, my uncle’s twin brother during birth.   Yet she managed to raise 4 more kids.  She was the strongest lady I knew, tough yet with a soft heart.  She was strict, cooked Filipino food every day, grew her own garden, and worked at the Care home.    My grandpa was a cool dude, the smell of 3 Flowers Pomade always remind me of him.  He gambled, could dance really well, and could pack me and my sister on his bike and take us around Kekaha.  He had a bullet scar on his leg from fighting in the war.  He built us a swingset, cracked coconuts for us to eat and would catch us grasshoppers and tie string around their legs for our little pets.  hehe.  Man I miss them and those lazy days growing up.  One of my best memories was going with them and their elderly friends to the reservoirs to go clam digging.  We’d be riding in the back of his pick up truck on these little stools that he built for us.  Going through the cane fields till we got to the reservoir, and then using homemade nets to wade in the water and find clams and play with tadpoles. 

Nowadays when I feel like life sucks or is too hard to handle, I think of them and everything they went through.  They had to deal with so much struggle and pain, yet were still happy and content later in life. I’m grateful to have had them to raise me and teach me that no matter what happens in life, I’ll get through it.   And hopefully I’ll live a full life like they did.

 

benfamil

twinsgram twinsgramp

gramsbabies


3 comments:

Trisha said...

I loved this Janell. I was raised off & on by my grandparents too. There's nothing like it.

July 16, 2010 at 1:30 PM
Jennah M said...

Love it

July 17, 2010 at 9:04 AM
Sarah said...

This was very touching... made me tear! I didn't grow up with my grandparents but I know they were both hard workers, too. They lived in Yap Islands all their lives. Thanks for sharing Janell. You reminded me to enjoy and appreciate life! Loved reading about you & your grandparents... It's true you will always get through it!

September 6, 2010 at 12:10 PM

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