ESL Blogs

The Legacy of my Grandmother

It was a lovely afternoon in January 2010 when I turned my face to search for memorial things that belong to my maternal grandmother. I took leave and I went to my old deceased grandmother's big house to look for her old stuff. I stepped in the abandoned house and I looked around the rooms but there was nothing really interesting , I decided to go to the attic base hoping to find something interesting.
Once I got in, the attic was dark and everything around was covered with spider webs and dust, there was a dim-half light bursting from the wooden louver that illuminated the area a little bit, cockroaches filling the ground, I kept rummaging through the things that are scattered around the corner and while still searching , I have found an eye catchy mid sized wooden chest filled with dust and a spider web in form of circular tent sticking to the corner edge of the chest, i flicked the dust and opened it with ease as the chest state is quite flimsy. To my surprise there was a stack of old letters that sparked my interest I started glancing over them and most of these hundreds of letters belongs certainly to my grandmother and they were addressed to her family/relatives, although some were written to her children including my mother, some written to express sentiments and other papers are diaries mentioning some griefs and war bonds that happened during the French rule in Algeria even though this collection remains interesting, until I found an enveloped letter entitled "Important words to my grandson" I couldn't wait a second to open it without damaging the sealed envelope cover. This letter is postmarked January 20th, 2003 which means two years before she passed away.

Dear Billel,

My dearest and most beloved grandson. If you are reading this, it means that I've already left this world behind and therefore I left this letter for you and if you could only read this, I should be delighted. I wanted to share with you a secret that has been in my heart for a long time ago but I couldn't spell it for some reasons. I am writing all this in our plain language so that you could understand my intention. The day you were born, the joyful tears of my daughter brought me a great gift and you made up that special day for us and especially when your father lift you up in the air joyfully pronouncing your name because you were his first adorable child ever. You are floating in the sea of the next generation and therefore I would like to put some things in your hand, an unwrapped secret that can help you live for your destined short life although we can't live forever, but you should promise me first that you will be faithful and obedient to your parents in everything they say and to be fair in the division of the wealth that I left for you and your brothers. This is the reason why I addressed this letter to you before dying, because you are a the eldest son of my beloved daughter that I put my trust in. There is a well preserved fortune belonging to my father that I thought of sharing with my future children and grandchildren. So, each one has his own part and I want you to build a successful life. There is a large trunk hidden in this house. There is a wooden wall behind the sink of the bathroom, just find the 12th wood plank start counting from the upper ceiling. I wish you a life filled with health, happiness and love. Remember these words from your grandmother.

Yours sincerely,

       Your grandma HZ

In memories of my grandmother that left us at the age of 82 in February 6th, 2005. Despite her hardship experience in life during her time, she was a great model of applied wisdom, a great educator, she was a devoted loving mother that had the potential to raise many children including my mother by which she inspired her to be what she really is at the present and I am proud of her great contributions in many set of things in life. Despite she left this world, I can still see her presence in my mother. These words and expressions are not enough to fully describe the true nature of my grandmother.

Note : This letter is not real, there is no such thing as fortune left by my grandma. I made it all up so that it fits for Luci's challenge requirements. My grandma means alot to me than her fortune if she ever left something before dying. She is a treasure herself.