Often families have rituals that are passed on from generation to generation but the source of them is forgotten. My grandparents have lived through years of history and those traditions are little artifacts that came from their lives before our modern world. My family has a annual tradition that every december during christmas time, we all make the trip from New York to Maui, Hawaii. The first time my mothers family went was when she was fifteen years old. My grandparents fell in love with it so much they decided to go back the following year; and the next 50 after that. We have stayed at the same exact beach every year even as the years go on and the family grows. It is the time of year all 9 of my cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents have almost two full weeks to spend together by their sides instead of a simple thanksgiving dinner. When my parents got engaged they were going to plan the wedding during december vacation because at first it seemed like the most convenient. When my papa was told this information, the december dates were no longer an option. It seems crazy that he wouldn't want the wedding during that time but the time spent in hawaii and the memories created there he and my grandma could not give up. This cherished tradition, that no matter where we all are in the world or what state we attend college, we all congregate in Maui at the same time every year. This tradition is similar to that of my grandmothers family and Far Rockaway. Without all of these years of trekking twelve hours to a tropical island my family would not be as close and we would not have all the memories of my grandparents we do.
It has taught the grandchildren to act almost as siblings and grow close to each other. It has also given us an appreciation for our grandparents always holding our families together. My grandparents are constantly telling us stories as a hope to guide us. From my oldest cousin who is twenty-seven to my youngest cousin at six years old, they have imprinted in us values through their talks and actions. They always explain how fortunate we are to be able to come together.
I sometimes overlook the importance of the little events that make them so happy. They are almost reaching ninety years old and each year the trip to hawaii becomes harder to make. It makes me as well as my cousins realize we cannot take them or the lessons they give us for granted. We have to cherish the new years eves on the beach and the phone calls at home.
It has taught the grandchildren to act almost as siblings and grow close to each other. It has also given us an appreciation for our grandparents always holding our families together. My grandparents are constantly telling us stories as a hope to guide us. From my oldest cousin who is twenty-seven to my youngest cousin at six years old, they have imprinted in us values through their talks and actions. They always explain how fortunate we are to be able to come together.
I sometimes overlook the importance of the little events that make them so happy. They are almost reaching ninety years old and each year the trip to hawaii becomes harder to make. It makes me as well as my cousins realize we cannot take them or the lessons they give us for granted. We have to cherish the new years eves on the beach and the phone calls at home.
My grandpa on my fathers side has nine grandchildren as well and eight great grandchildren. He has had an incredible impact on our lives but through a more silent way. Because of his age of one hundred and two it is extremely difficult for him to recognize people in our family especially those of us who are younger and were not around during his earlier years. He has been devoted to family and religion his entire life. When I visit him, he often does not know who I am but if I recite any line from a religious text, he will finish the entire book. This devotion speaks to me. It is one of the few things that stayed with him so clearly through over a century. His presence shapes our family. He teaches us modesty and the value of life and family we should all have. He may only repeat many of the same lines when I get to see him, but there is so much more hidden behind that we learn from. His care for our family brings tears to my every time I see him. His importance to us and his courage even the little cousins can recognize. On his birthdays he always receives presents from the family, but I think what he really wants is to be able to be with us all. I wish he could notice the influence he has had on us.