Amitha Peiris
Safe in our hearts
Grandparents are a bridge of love from the past to the present and into the future. A child is gifted to a mother and father and grandchildren are gifted as a bonus to grandparents. I had four good and kind hearted grandparents, but now I don’t have any of them with me. I lost my last grandmother three months ago. This incident was a very disappointing one for me because I had my last blue sapphire gem with me and Mother Nature took it away from me forever.
I didn’t know what to do, my whole world was falling apart because my loving grandmother left on a journey that will never bring her back to me. I know that RIP means Rest in Peace but what I would say is, it means Return If Possible.
My grandmother was my best friend, teacher, role model and now she is my guardian angel watching over me. Although I didn’t see her often, whenever I did, she would give me whatever she had in her hand. She is truly sweet, and would never leave my side. If I have a fight with my parents and was not in a mood to talk she would try her best to make me smile.
Sometimes I go to her house after school, and whenever I walked through the door she would greet me saying, “Putha, how was school?” and smile. Her smile, her beautiful face, is enough to keep me going. When I feel bored she would say something nice or give me something to eat. When I show her my books and talk about my dreams of being a doctor she would listen carefully and at the end say, “when you become a doctor I would only come to you for medicine”.
I kept these words in my mind. She is such a blessing to me and I know she would be happy one day when I achieve my dream. I was waiting to treat her but unfortunately, I was unsuccessful. But I will somehow achieve my goals and make her proud of me.
When I worship her she would pat my head and kiss my cheeks, encourage me and always protect me. She was like a shield to me. I think of her all the time and how I wish I could talk to her, but now, I only have some photos in a frame to talk to. Hers and my three other grandparents’ photos are placed on top of my piano.
So whenever I play the piano I look at them and smile to myself. My grandmother is no longer with us but she would be cherished in our hearts and no one is capable of taking her place.
So Aachi may you attain the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana.
Dinaya Peiris -(Granddaughter )