Mimi and Pa

Today my grandparents have been married for forty-nine years. My family celebrated their anniversary by going out to Riverside for dinner. For their fiftieth next year, we plan to throw a party for the both of them.  This is something I am already looking forward to. My grandparents have made a tremendous impact on my life ever since I was a little girl, and still today.

When I was a baby, both of them basically raised me. My parents would work long hours throughout the day and I would be at home with Mimi and Pa. At this time it was easy for them to watch me because we lived in their basement while our future house was being remodeled. When our house was finished, my mom, dad, and I moved from Mimi and Pa’s basement across the road into our new home.

Growing up across the road from my grandparents has truly been a blessing. They were always there for me when I needed a ride, help with homework, or someone to talk to when I did not want to talk with my parents. I realize that they probably got annoyed from their grandchildren being over constantly, but deep down they knew they just could not resist us.

Not only were my grandparents there for me at any given time, they also spoiled the heck out of all of their grandchildren. When we all were in elementary, Mimi would pick us up from school on half days and take us to McDonald’s, where we would play for hours on end.  

Mimi and Pa also have a fifth wheel that we take camping. They have taken me camping ever since I was little. We would often go up to Aloha State Park, but that was an extremely long drive, so we changed our location of where we would camp.  Now, we go camping at Outdoor Adventures, which is only an hour away. Where we go camping is particularly close compared to where Mimi and Pa’s cabin is located.

My grandparents have a cabin about three and a half hours away. While my family is up north we are always outdoors. Pa recently bought a can-am four wheeler that is always being used, whether we are cruising the property, riding the trails, or hauling back our deer after an evening hunt.

Along with riding quads up at their cabin, we also snowmobile. When all of the grandchildren were little, Mimi and Pa bought us a mini-z. This was so we had a snowmobile our size to ride around the yard, and they wanted us to be comfortable with driving. The mini-z stayed in our family for many years, we had to sell it because everyone had grown up and soon after that we bought a bigger sled. Snowmobiling is something everyone in my family loves to do, all of us often go out and ride the trails. Mimi and Pa always are the caboose because they like to sight see and enjoy keeping an eye on all of their children.

Mimi and Pa have always been there for me. I certainly do not take them for granted. I cherish every moment I spend with them because these days we never know when it will be someone’s last. I can go to either of them in any situation and I know they will always do their best to help me out. I can honestly say I am blessed with the world’s best grandparents.