Happiness at the Grandparents House - Essay Example

I am perfectly content in my grandparents’ house because it is a place that encourages long conversations and symbolizes the role of the family as a permanent source of support, guidance, and inspiration.

My grandparents have a big house that they built through decades of hard work in business, and now, it has become a friendly environment where family and peers can drop by anytime to spend time with one another, particularly sharing personal and other kinds of stories. My cousins and I used to go there daily. Sometimes, when there are no classes, we stay the whole day, playing in the wide backyard with fruit-bearing trees or just lazing around in the front yard reading comics and books. The best times are storytelling times with my grandparents. My grandma and grandpa have different genres they specialize in. My grandpa is fond of histories and documentaries, while grandma talks about folk tales and personal life stories. When I listen to them, I feel transported to their older worlds or other imaginary places. They have a way of speaking and describing characters, settings, and plots that enthrall their audiences. Even when some stories are grisly and scary, I feel safe in the haven of my grandparents’ house.

Besides listening to histories and folk stories, I love the long conversations we have when we eat together. Every day, a family or friend drops by and brings food and good stories. My grandparents have a long dining table that can fit fifteen people. Around it are smaller tables. The dining room is designed with conversations in mind, where people can listen to one another and share their stories and ideas openly, but respectfully. I remember when my grandmother told their love story. Their love story has a familiar plot because she and grandpa started as friends until they fell in love in college. I love the parts where grandpa would visit grandma and he would bring her food, instead of flowers. She prefers good food over flowers that wilt. She admits that they would have been long overweight if they did not both enjoy having long nature walks together. Other visitors will share their stories too, as well as talk about current affairs. I observed that my father avoided subjects that can result in conflict as much as possible. When discussions get heated, however, he cracks a good joke that breaks the tension. Such is the peacefulness in their house.

Apart from being a treasure of stories, my grandparents’ house symbolizes the role of the family as a lasting source of support, guidance, and inspiration. My grandparents are open to problems being shared with them, and they help family and friends as much as they can. When my uncle lost his wife and children to a car accident, he stayed for a year at my grandparents’ house. He rarely went out and focused on his news writing, but just by being there, I understand the love that he feels from his parents. The house is also a source of guidance and inspiration. Family members are open to giving advice to one another and avoiding cruel judgments on each other’s decisions. They are more into inspiring one another, supporting the talents and abilities of the family. A strong sense of cohesion is present in my grandparents’ house.