not a replacement

This post is dedicated to Joyce. Joyce is my "step-grandmother."

My Nan, my mom's mom, died when I was in second grade. I was seven years old and I loved my Nan to pieces. She was a beautiful, caring woman who loved everyone around her.

Joyce came into the picture a couple years later when she married Pap. Remembering back I was somewhat upset at how soon after Nan died Pap was remarrying. I guess to a grieving seven year old it looked like my grandfather was trying to replace my Nan.

At first I was skeptical of Joyce. In a way I held it against her, my Nan dying that is. I thought that Joyce was coming into my life to replace my grandmother, and I swore to myself that she would never.

She hasn't, and I'm realizing now, at 18 years old, that she was never trying to.

You see Joyce was a widow herself. She lost her husband Alan some number of years before she met Pap.

Joyce and Pap were just two people who lost the loves of their life and found each other. I can't be mad at Pap or Joyce for that.

From the very beginning Joyce made a conscious effort to talk to me about everything. From sports, to being Jewish, to books. She always had something great to say. Joyce was always at Pap's side at sporting events, and she always went out of her way to make me feel comfortable around her, and for that, I'm grateful.

Joyce is a great woman. She has to be to put up with some of my Pap's crap. She just rolls her eyes at him and carries on most times. (It's quite humorous actually.)

Just yesterday I talked to Joyce on the phone about getting into Fordham. She was beyond happy for me. In fact, she sounded close to tears. In that moment I realized that Joyce has become my grandmother. I always refer to her as my "step grandma" but in reality she's been there for me for the majority of my life. She's taught me a lot about life, but the greatest thing her and Pap have taught me is that it's never too late to love. 


Never give up on love. I saw my grandfather lose the love of his life and stumble across another incredible lady.


There's plenty of love out there, you just have to keep your eyes open.