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sharpenednails — Admirable People
Published: 2004-12-20 03:34:03 +0000 UTC; Views: 135; Favourites: 0; Downloads: 11
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Admirable PeopleThere are many people who touch our everyday lives, but very rarely receive the
recognition or appreciation they deserve. They may have the personalities of super-stars,
but their characteristics are known only by few. The following three people that I am about to
describe fit this description. They are wonderful people; my heros. No, they are not on
television and have not come up with a cure for cancer. Sometimes "ordinary" people are
over-looked. They are a part of my family - my grandfather, my grandmother, and my mother.
My grandfather is a man you would pass on the street, turn around, and take a double take
on. He is not balding, leaning to the ground with osteoporosis, or taking tiny steps with a walker.
He is just as determined to get places and do things as a thirty-year-old. Old age will never put
a damper on his vitality. I admire him for his sense of motivation. Whenever you need him, he is
there. He has driven me home from school or transported me to various places in blistering cold
temperatures, and has brought me McDonalds when I have been too weak or sick to move off
of the couch. He is in no way normal. He can still strike up a conversation with a person of any
age, and be successful in bringing a smile to their face. His humor makes him festive. When you
need somebody to talk to, he is a great listener. I sometimes find myself wishing I had more of
his qualities. However, I have learned to be a good person from his spontaneous deeds. He has
inspired me to help others in need. In the art of giving, I would have to say that he tops almost
everybody. Not only does he give gifts during the holidays, but on a day-to-day basis as well.
He gives me an allowance for doing absolutely nothing, and money for my report-card no
matter what the grades are. Aside from the material things, he gives up his free time. Also, when
I am in his company, I find that I am learning a lot about what it was like to grow up in the
1930's-1940's. My grandfather seems to have the unqiue trait of photographic memory, which
enables him to tell clear stories of his childhood. He even points out the places they occurred in,
years ago, as we drive through Onieda County. He is special because he has held onto that
childhood purity. I compare him to the miserable, often drab faces in the nursing home, and it
never ceases to amaze me. He does have a few "disabilities" which include an aching knee and
a patch over one eye, but he almost acts as if they aren't there. If he is mentioning them at all,
it is only to bring laughs. That is one of his other special qualities - the fact that he always kids
about things. I have never seen him in a dismal mood. I am lucky to have, (in my opinion), the
most amiable grandfather on his planet.
My grandma is another unusual character, which is understandable, because she lives with
my grandfather. Not only does she have determination, but she's got an impermeable surge of
energy. At six in the morning, she is up and ready to go. What does her daily routine consist
of? Shopping and more shopping. In this way, she too is a 'modern' grandmother, surpassing
old age. I admire the fact that she still wants to get out. When she is at a new grocery store or
a garage-sale, I find she has another gift. That is of conversation. Whether you want her
opinion or not, it is there for you. She can continue on arguments or conversations for hours.
Every place that she brings me, somebody is calling out "Olga!" They know her face and her
name. She is quick to make both acquaintances and friends. What she says is intriguing as
well. She always has bits and pieces of the news to share and gossip to spread; she is very
well read. I think that is a wonderful characteristic. Then you have her sense of fashion.
No, she does not wear 'high-waters', funny shoes, plaid pants, neon colors, or baggy
sweaters, like the majority of the 'old woman' population. She enjoys attire ranging from
a casual pair of jeans to a glitzy animal-print sweater. She is interested in the same type
of gaudy earrings and necklaces that I am. This is the type of grandmother you want
your friends to meet. All that have met her had good feed-back, generally mentioning
what an interesting personality she has. I've learned many life lessons from my grandma.
One: Dunkin' Doughnuts has the best coffee, end of story. Two: Things don't have to
be expensive to be good. Three: Keep up with the news, because you might actually
learn something. My grandmother is special because she can make something out of nothing.
If she picks up a sweater from a Church sale, bam! It's a pillow by the following morning.
She has twisted seeds and grown them into trees bearing circular trunks. It's an unusual
sense of creativity. Also, she has a way with money that no other does. (Sort of.) Although
she is spending it left and right, she is also saving it. Instead of buying plants, she nurtures
dead ones back to life. Every year she has a huge garage-sale with every sort of item
imaginable. She buys something for little-to-no cost, tweaks it, and doubles her money. She
also has a passion for animals, as I have noticed over the years. Presently, she has two
stray cats in her home that she took in, living on tuna fish and whatever delicacies
they desire. Then you have the crows and the skunks - normally outdoor critters. She
feeds them as well. Infact, she feeds everyone well. All I have to do is mumble "I'm hungry",
and I've got a plate with 52 combinations sitting on my lap.
My mother, the last of my three choices (but certainly not the least), has taken many
genes from her parents and adapted them. Like her father, she has a sense of humor.
From her guffaw to her broad, ear-to-ear smile, you cannot help but laugh too. She literally
lights up a room when she steps in. I wish that I could just blurt out my laughter whenever
I pleased. Her comments are witty, and together my mother and I find many things to joke
about. With this fervor for laughter and animation, she manages to pick up many friends.
Almost every day I listen to her ramble on about how somebody stopped her in the store
and talked to her. How can't you? She generates a warm, down-to-earth aura. Her social
qualities, like her mother, keep the conversations alive and continously interesting. She is
pleasant and caring. You can get sympathy from her when you need it, or simply a heart-felt
discussion. Demonstrating concern and persistance, she works into the late hours of the night
and early hours of the morning to get things done. These 'things' are never less then perfect.
She has an admirable knack for artistry. She produces scarves, gag gifts, drink-bottle straps,
record bowls, and many other accessories during her hours up. Little poems and ideas are
always running through her mind. She is also very fashionable and intelligent. Cooridinated
outfits and make-up are a must. Exotic jewelry fills her drawers. During Jeopardy, she
always manages to beat me. With a good college and high-school education, she has retained
tons of facts. This gets me to my next subject: what I have learned from her. If I have a problem
with my homework assignments, she is right there and involved, unlike many other parents.
She knows what she is doing, whether it is Math or Global. If she does not know something,
we learn it together. She takes her valuable time to look it up. Then there is my style. I have
derived it from her. There was once a day when I did not know how to brush my hair, or
what 'eye-shadow' and 'eye-liner' meant. Instead of putting foolish boundaries on me
(such as restricting make-up or dating until a certain age), she helped me learn these things.
She gave me a make-over one day, and I guess I have liked it ever since. Because she is
my mother, I have learned the most lessons from her. I learned how to be a good person,
what the 'Golden Rule' was, to live your life to the fullest, to have hapiness and laughter,
to do your best, and never say "I can't." Most importantly, I think she has given me a solid
idea of how to treat my children one day, if I ever decide to have them. I hope I can be
as good as her. My mother is special because of her many talents and abilites, and the way
she has brought me up. Not many other mothers can make Chocolate-chip bannana bread
the way she does, or organize things into different baskets. She is superb at cleaning,
crafting, and cooking/baking. Not only that, but she manages two different jobs. She is
better then a 'stay-at-home mom', and she teaches disabled children in an elementary
school. She has the patience and cooperation to deal with me as well as them. My mother
has raised me in the best possible way. We have a wonderful, sharing relationship, and no
secrets. She does not make me eat every last scrap on the plate, and I do not have any
chores. All of my skills come solely from what she has taught me through words. In my
opinion, she is the ideal mom.
There are many people in this world that are close to me, but were not mentioned here.
These three were not perhaps above the rest, but I believe they have the most colorful
and vivacious personalities. I can laugh and cry with them. I am blessed to have such
wonderful people in my life, and I wish I could tell them this every day. Hopefully my words
gave you an idea of just how special these people are. They deserve celebrity status.
