Kaylee Rucker College Preparatory English Autobiographical Essay September 16, 2016 Faded Photographs
As I looked at old pictures of me and my grandfather from when I was a kid, I noticed how happy and healthy my grandfather seemed. How could that have changed so quickly, right in front of me, and I didn’t even realize it? I guess the image of him being young and strong was just stuck in my head, and I always assumed that’s what he was still like even though I didn’t see him often. When my grandpa’s failing health put him into the Veteran’s home, I quickly realized that I needed to better prioritize what’s important to me and to not take life for granted.
I never used to spend time with my family. I would see them at our big family occasions every once in awhile, and that was enough, right? My life always seemed to be too busy for me to have time to drive to other towns and see family. My priorities were always elsewhere; I didn’t think it was a big deal to go see them more than I already did. I knew that my grandpa loved me, and he knew that I loved him so that was good enough for me. I didn’t think me acting any other way would make a difference.
One day my dad told me that grandpa was back in the hospital. That was nothing new; he was in and out of the hospital all the time. My father then told me that grandpa’s health was pretty bad this time, and we didn’t know how much longer he could keep living like this. He had a collapsed lung while on his way home from his previous hospital stay. Grandpa and his brother turned around and went back to the hospital where the doctors informed him that they discovered he might have lung cancer. The doctors weren’t sure if he was going to live much longer. I was shocked. Grandpa was a person who was just always there. Wasn’t he supposed to continue to always be there? The doctors and my family decided that he wasn’t fit to live on his own anymore. He refused to come live with my parents or either of my aunts as he “didn’t want to be a burden.” He was then put into the Veteran’s home where he would have a nurse there at all hours if his health were to ever become a life threatening issue again.
When he was put into the Veteran’s home I quickly realized that I had never made it a priority to go visit my family before. I had not seen my grandpa in quite a while. To be quite honest I couldn’t remember the last conversation that we had. I was used to him always being around, and I had never thought about what life would be like when he wasn’t here anymore. That thought terrified me. I realized that he was my grandfather, and I had no idea who he really was. I started going and visiting him as much as I possibly could. Once I made it a priority to go visit him, it was amazing to see how much extra time I actually had. I had taken him for granted, and that was definitely a huge mistake. We now have a great relationship; he’s one of my best friends. I am extremely blessed to have him involved in my life. People get side tracked easily. Too often I get caught up in my own life. I get busy with school, jobs, sports, clubs, and friends. I lose sight of what should truly be my first priority: family. My grandpa being put into the Veteran’s home and not being his normal, happy, healthy self showed me what is really important in life; I will forever be grateful for that. My grandpa’s issues taught me that life is a gift, and I will never waste it on unimportant moments again.