Grandma's Heart

Grandma has a sick heart.
Dad says it’s because she works too hard.
Grandpa says it’s because Grandma loves to eat too much fat.
The doctor says it’s because she has an enlarged heart. I’m not sure what that means. Maybe her heart is too big.

~ * ~ * ~
Grandma's heart makes her slow.
When we ride the train, we have to go up one step at a time. One time, this lady behind us was really irritated. “Slow people shouldn’t be allowed on the stairs,” she said loudly. I guess she was in a hurry.

I don’t mind going up one step at a time. We play lots of games. My favorite is the Alphabet Game. First step is A. For atis, Antarctica, Aunt Anna, and antelope. B is for banana, Belgium, Barney and bear. I don’t like letter X though. I can’t think of anything that starts with X.
~ * ~ * ~
Grandma's heart makes her get tired easily.
When we’re in the park, she can’t push me on the swing anymore. But that’s okay. I know how to make myself go way up high. Grandma taught me how.

Bend and stretch. Bend and stretch. I couldn’t touch the ground before, but now Grandma says I can bend and stretch my legs so well that I almost make the swing go around the bar!

Sometimes, Grandma just sits beside me on the other swing, and she tells me stories about when my dad was younger. She used to push him on the swing too.

~ * ~ * ~

Grandma's heart makes her weak.
We used to go to the market on Saturday mornings. Grandma would buy lots of vegetables and meat and fish. She’d also buy me my favorite senorita bananas. I can eat lots of those!

Now I help Grandma carry her bags. And mom mostly buys the food for Grandma and Grandpa. Mom cooks most of the time too. Sometimes, when it rains, Grandma still makes me tsokolate that she mixes with a wooden spoon.

~ * ~ * ~

Because of Grandma's heart, she can’t come see me when I’m sick.
I talk to her on the phone though, and I feel a bit better.
But I still miss Grandma a lot then.

~ * ~ * ~

There are a lot of things that Grandma can’t do because of her heart. We can’t run. We can’t play too long. She can’t bake my favorite cookies. She has to go to bed early. I miss the things we used to do.

But there are a lot of things Grandma can still do.

Hug me.
Kiss me.
Squeeze my cheeks.
Tell me stories.
And tell me I’m her favorite grandchild.

And that’s why I think Grnadma has a large heart.
Because Grandma's heart is always full of love.