A day with my grandma

by Janessa Thao

05:00 AM	Waking up to the sound of blenders
	Smelling the creamy scent of soy radiated through the kitchen
	Seeing the beans being sifted in a bamboo sieve and the freshly made tofu being squeezed
	Viewing all of your hard work being made into a delicious dish

07:00 AM	Getting ready for the rest of the day
	Watching everyone leave for school
	Spending time together in the quiet early morning

10:00 AM	Walking down the street to the local Asian market
	Hearing you speak HMoob to the owners
	Getting the pastries and banana leaf sticky rice to bring back home

12:00 PM	Sitting with you in the living room
	Observing you look out into the yard through our gigantic front window
	Listening to the HMoob music and stories in the background on our old boom box
	Hearing the noise of beads and coins being strewn together onto a fabric

04:00 PM	Waiting for everyone to come home
	Watching you cook dinner
	Eating together as a family while talking about and sharing our lives

07:00 PM	Watching TV together in the living room
	Heating up ncuav, sticky rice cake, to eat and share with everyone
	Resting after the long day

11:00 PM	Brushing my teeth as you take out your dentures
	Watching you wrap up all of your hair and putting it on the top of your head
	Seeing you scratch your back with the wooden back scratcher
	Spreading Suave lotion on your back since you can’t reach it
	Going to bed next to each other, waiting for the next day to come

As I remember the past, I remember my life growing up with you every day and wishing I could relive it once more.

To the matriarch of my family, my puj – kuv ncu koj, kuv hlub koj

Janessa is SEARAC’s summer Development Intern. You can email her here.