Personal Essay Example: Visiting My Grandparents

“We're going to Mexico!” my mom cheerfully broke the news. We had not visited my hometown for three long years due to a pandemic and other complications impeding our visit. Consequently, I hadn’t visited my grandparents who played a major role in my childhood. Before we moved to the US, we would spend every weekend with my grandparents creating great memories. Happiness filled my face when I received the news, and I started to count every minute until my plane departed for Mexico. I never realized the importance this visit had on my perspective on spending time with my loved ones

After weeks of anticipation and excitement, the day arrives and we board the plane. My mind is racing with thoughts about what will transpire during our visit to Mexico. I thought of reuniting with my old friends, visiting attractions, and just getting to spend time with my grandparents again. The plane lands and my family and I get in a car and drive towards our old home where my grandparents were currently living. As we made our way down the road, nostalgia filled the air as we passed by green parks, lavish shopping centers, and reminiscent places I used to visit as a kid. All of these places took me back to my childhood, but not as much as seeing the entrance to my gated community. The tall rigid metal doors slowly opened as the security officer, who I remembered from when I was a kid, greeted us.

In an instant, I got out of the car and saw the rough, red brick roof above the silky, white-colored walls of my former home. I walked up and opened the tall wooden door that separated me from my grandparents. I looked inside and saw my grandparents with open arms and a glaring smile. But there was something different from what I remembered. I looked at them again and saw clear signs of aging as if 100 years had passed. Their hair, grey as silver, and their wrinkles, deep like the ocean, stuck in my head. My mind starts racing realizing all the time I had lost with my grandparents and how the years passed by so quickly. I started to unconsciously think about how I might not have much time with them or how it could be the last visit before the dreaded event happens. 

Momentarily time froze,  as I went into a flashback mode recalling memories I created with my grandparents. I remembered the parks we passed by and the memories with my grandpa there. Up until I was nine years old we visited the park frequently to play and spend time together. During the summer of 2015, My grandpa and I went outside on a hot, sunny day. We walked to the park together to go and play soccer on the courts. I remember the joy I felt as he was always down to spend time with me.  When we arrived, we started to kick the ball around and I accidentally kicked the ball directly towards his head. I felt so bad about it, but I remembered he just laughed about it and continued to play for hours until we got told to come back to the house. 

When I was 10, I always wanted an original soccer jersey, but my mom always said I would ruin it and not take care of it.  We walked down the narrow shopping isles when a bright white jersey, with hints of black stripes dancing down the sides of the jersey, and the National Mexican soccer team logo on the right-hand side of the jersey caught my eyes.  I slowly went towards my mom and carefully asked, “Can I please get that jersey Mom? I've always wanted it.” 

“No.” She replied candidly.

“Please I’ll do anything, I’ll do the dishes, ill…”    

“No means no.” My mom countered back with a stern tone.

¨I'll get it for him.” my grandma interfered. My eyes lit up as Grandma had made my dream come true. We went inside the store to pick out the perfect jersey and I was ecstatic for the rest of the day.

 In 2017, during my visit to Mexico, my grandparents and I played board games throughout my visit. I remember the laughter-filled room and the crazy times I experienced with them during this summer. From UNO to Poker we always had a game to play and enjoy together.

2018 was the last time I had seen my grandparents. I couldn't remember anything special or memorable from this visit. I realized this visit was different as I had just gotten my first phone over the summer. The only thing that interested me was the pixels reflected through the phone. I spent one of my limited visits playing games, texting, or on social media by myself instead of spending time with my grandparents

A new realization had come to my head, I had to spend every possible second with my grandparents as they would not last forever. They had helped shape my great childhood happy memories like the ones at the park, at the shopping center, or at home with my grandparents. I knew that I had to continue and make more memories. All it took to realize this was a couple of wrinkles and gray hairs

Eventually, I was back in reality. I went up to my grandparents and hugged them like it if it was the last time I would see them.¨So what do you want to do today?¨ I asked with a wide smile on my face.