REAL LIFE GRANMANCES
Gracie: A Mother's Day Tribute by Bobbie Smith Bryant
Bobbie Smith Bryant's blind great grandmother made a lasting impression on her through the remarkable way she lived her life. This personal reminiscence highlights an amazing woman and serves as a heartfelt Mother's Day tribute. Read the story
Grandma Joy and Brad Ryan
Veterinary student Brad Ryan was dangerously burned out when he realized he needed to change. Seeking healing from a grueling schedule, he set out to reconnect with nature and his grandmother, Joy. Together, over a seven year period, they visited all 63 U.S. National Parks. Read the story
Excerpt from "Economy and Pleasure" by Wendell Berry
Wendell Berry recalls an afternoon spent with granddaughter Katie, 5, when she accompanied him on a farm chore. She drives a team of horses for the first time, but he worries, when they finally head home and the weather turns bitter, that the trip has become miserable for her. Read the story
Business Carries on Grandma's Legacy by Kevin Osbourn
When Ardia Herndon taught basketweaving to her granddaughter, Dani Sue, she not only imparted valuable skills but she left a legacy that would touch many lives. "It was never just about a basket. It was about how our lives are woven together," reflected Dani Sue. Read the story
L.A. Affairs: My Grandmother Never Met Him. But She Would Have Loved Him Too by Jessica Broutt
At the heart of this essay is a profound grandmother-granddaughter bond, a true personal reminiscence built through years of shared books, conversations, and adventures. Even after her grandmother's death, Jessica Broutt discovers that the love and wisdom she inherited contiue to illuminate her path forward. Read the story
About the Cannelloni by Rachel Stone
How many times have you turned to a family recipe, hoping the act of making it might bring you a little closer to the person who first made it? In this essay, Rachel Stone reflects on how preparing her grandmother’s cannelloni became less about recreating a dish and more about remembering the person. Read the story
My Grandmother Survived the Holocaust. Now It's Up To Me To Keep Her Story Alive by Leah Schwalb
Leah Schwalb shares the extraordinary life of her grandmother Georgina—a Holocaust survivor who lived to 101. The essay weaves together childhood story times, harrowing survival, postwar resilience in Montreal, and the quiet power of a grandmother’s presence, reminding us how deeply our elders shape who we become. Read the story
A Fourth of July Granmance by Alisa Fisher
A grandson and grandfather bond over a shared love of baseball on America's 250th birthday. What begins as a conversation about America's pastime unfolds into stories of military service in Vietnam, enduring friendships, and the memories that bind generations together. Read the story
Pear Preserves by Kristin Harrison Taylor
A grandfather's love of pears and canning leaves an indelible mark on this granddaughter's heart. As she recalls the scents, the rich amber color, and the care that went into this beloved family recipe, she remembers her PawPaw's generosity and craftsmanship. Read the story
Big Boy 4014 and a Grandfather’s Gift by Matt Fisher
When Kevin Lewis received a small HO-scale model of a Big Boy locomotive from his grandfather, he had no idea that the tiny train would one day connect him to a historic restoration project—and bring back the memory of the man who first introduced him to trains. Read the story
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