I have a special place in my heart for my maternal grandmother, Serafina. Or, as she is affectionately called, Sera. You know, like "Que sera, sera." Whatever will be, will be. It's quite a fitting nickname, if you ask me. Her positive attitude and strong character have always been a source of comfort and inspiration for me which is why I've compiled this short but sweet list of why she is absolutely inspiring.
1. She is a dancing beauty queen
She has been ballroom dancing for as long as she could walk! This woman is still tearing up the dance floor at almost 81 years old! She even took an interest in figure skating because of its dance elements. And, even in her eighties, she still participates in local beauty pageants like those from her youth. It just goes to show that you never really lose your youthfulness. It's all in your head, people!
2. She turned everything into gold
She's credited with "dressing up" her hometown by planting trees, flowers, and basically being the town's botanist for more than 5 decades. She won't say it herself, but she is one of the reasons why tourists make a detour to see the beautiful gardens and plant life in an area that is basically off the grid. It's because of her efforts that some
3. She makes a difference
She is a philanthropist at heart -- something she's handed down to her children (a.k.a. MY MOM!). She is active in senior's organizations and advocates for youth education. She has always been actively involved in her community and always strives to make a difference. This will undeniably be her biggest legacy.
4. She is protective and nurturing
She used to adopt elderly golden retrievers and help nurse them in their final years. She named all of these retrievers "Tarzan" because she didn't want to deal with the reality of telling her grandchildren that Tarzan passed away! At first this broke my heart, but now I look back at how clever she was! Sneaky, sneaky!
5. She is open minded and caring
She helped raise my younger cousin so her youngest daughter (my aunt who was a young mother) could experience her dreams of living and studying abroad. This was a great sacrifice for both, but my grandmother is surely the most caring and understanding person I've ever known to have understood my aunt's dilemma and to be the first to step up and help.
6. She is the boss
She and my grandfather put all four of their children through college on a salary that they earned by being their own bosses! She's never had a job where she didn't call the shots.
7. She knows that the best things in life are free
She is not materialistic and does not measure her life on a scale that values superficiality. She may like nice things, but to her everything that has to be attained through currency is disposable. I remember her saying, "The only thing worth owning is ourselves."
8. She is stubborn, but passionate and values the past
She stands her ground! She refuses to move out of her humble home in the hills. You know that song, "Over the hill and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go?" That's the story of my life. My mom and uncle have made updates on my grandmother's land. My uncle even paid for the city to build roads and side streets so it was easier to get to my grandmother's house. She still adamantly refuses to leave the house my grandfather, the love of her life (she'll tell you this), built in the late 50s. That house is her everything! My mom was able to sneak in a few updates, though. :)
As I hope you can tell, I love my grandmother for her quirkiness, strong-will, and heart of gold. I feel that anyone who becomes a part of her life is so lucky to be in her light. She's one in a million. I might just be saying that because I'm one of her oldest grandchildren, but I don't mind being biased when it comes to someone this amazing!
Who's the most influential person in your life?
