Family Gatherings

Student Essay by Connor Piercey

    There were childhood experiences I took for granted, with every day seeming to hold more adventure than the last. However, through my first decade of life, there was one large home that would not disappoint, Grandma’s house.  

As I finished picking up my toys, the smell of fresh bread hung lingered in the air. Mom had been baking , because tonight there was going to be a family gathering at Grandma’s house. It was going to be a good day. I had persevered through the eternal week waiting for Saturday, and it had finally arrived. After giving my masterpiece birthday card for Uncle Matt one last look of approval, I dropped my crayons. It was Uncle Matt’s birthday, and I had made the perfect gift. As I admired my artistic genius, I  heard my younger brother wailing, and my older sister complaining about her hair;, I knew it must be  time to go to Grandma’s. As we neared Grandma’s house, I realized we were quite late, but I was not  worried because I had long ago accepted tardiness as normal for our large family. Finally, we had arrived. Cars lined up the cracked driveway as family members piled into the old house. It was time to celebrate the October birthdays!

    As we filed in, we were met with the warm light bouncing off the smiling walls,   and the aroma of Grandma’s kitchen. The house was packed full of laughter and noise, and everyone was enjoying each other’s company. After successfully making my way to the living room without being recruited to help, I went to find my best friend, my cousin Lydia. Whether we drew on Grandma’s old whiteboard or just sat around and talked, spending time with my cousins was the best part of the week.  

    After we found our spots at the so called “kids table,” Grandma announced that it was dinner time and  the kids should be served first. Although I may have liked sitting in the rowdy adult room, where I could  

have listened to the questionable stories that were passed around, I decided I would never grow up and would claim a seat at the kids table forever. I would live near to Grandma forever and everyone could stay the same. We would gather for family celebrations at Grandma’s house for the rest of our lives. It was the perfect plan. Because of those cheerful faces, the vintage toys, and the comforting smells, there was no place like Grandma’s home.