My grandmother’s birthday is a lot like a national holiday. People stay home from work, plan elaborate celebrations and experience a general feeling of warmth and happiness. That’s just the kind of woman she is. Yesterday she turned seventy, which is actually an appropriate “grandma age”. People always say that she is a “young grandma” like it’s odd to have a grandmother that works full-time, drinks Wild Turkey, keeps me out until 3 AM and insists on going to Disneyland at least twice a year.
Her youth-in age and spirit-has been a tremendous blessing in my life. And as I prepare to leave home yet again, I’m reflecting more and more on how my family has shaped me. As the matriarch, Grandma has set an incredible example of how to blend affection with resilience and perseverance. I hope that I can reflect those attributes to my new friends and colleagues in Morocco over the next two years.
