Baghdad Summers

Sometimes when I can't sleep at night I would remember my grandma. We used to sleep over at my grandparents in the summer, my cousins and I would all gather up for a weekend there.


I remember we'd each grab a mattress and put it outside in the garden right next to the gardenia bush. And we'd keep it there till it was time for bed. Then we'd all fight for the spot infront of the AC to place our mattress, you see it gets pretty hot in the summer.
And when we'd put our heads on the pillow, it would smell like jasmin and gardenia.
To be honest, as cool as it gets infront of the AC, I used to always prefer to sleep near grandmas bed. My cousins live minutes away from grandma but I used to live in another continent. So that little time I had during those summers spent there, I would try and spend as much time as I could with grandma.
I remember there are days where my tears would roll down my face, and grandma always had the remedy to make it all well. She used to make the best food. She felt like it was her duty to feed us the yummiest food. Her food can mend a broken heart, put together a hurt soul and make everything better.
The best thing about grandma is right before she goes to bed, my cousins and I would all gather round her bed and she'd tell us a story, every night it was the same story and I'd never get tired of it. Ever.


Now that she's half way around the globe, all I can do is remember the memories and they keep me warm during the night. I would give my left kidney to be with her right now.


So if you have a grandma, and you can see her, if she lives with you or if she's minutes or hours away, give her a visit. Tell her you love and appreciate her. You are luckier than most people. And you should never take that for granted.