Grandmother Bonds

Abrar M., Tottenville High School volunteer shares an endearing encounter with a senior home resident and how it strengthened her bond with grandmother. 

"My mother gave birth to me at a hospital called Mercedes, which was situated right in front of a Mercedes car dealership. When the nurses asked her what she wanted to name me, she said, 'Mercedes.'" This was the story of Mercedes’ name, a sweet lady whom I met on my first GlamourGals visit. The influence of my first GlamourGals visit exceeded my original expectations. When my friend told me about the new club in our school, I was so excited to join. Glow-ups and makeovers are something that I have always been passionate about. I was impressed with the idea and the values of the club, so I decided to join, only to discover that I wouldn’t just leave the residents feeling glamorous but recognizing the impact and meaning that goes beyond a manicure. 

And there, I met Mercedes and got to know more about her. Time flew by really fast. Before I knew it, two hours had already passed. She had a lot of interesting stories to tell, and she gave inspiring and thoughtful advice. But, the ever-lasting effect of the first visit on my life didn’t stop at that point. It allowed me to acknowledge and consider that seniors have a lot to offer us: stories, wisdom, experiences, and love. I was influenced to maintain a closer relationship with my own grandmother after interacting with so many seniors. I started calling her every other day and asked her questions about the details of her life.

The story of how Mercedes was named was particularly fascinating for me, so I asked my grandma about the story of her name, and she turned out to have an interesting story behind it, too. She told me that her father met a gold merchant, who was called Afiat, and decided to name my grandma after her because he wanted her to live a comfortable life. My first GlamourGals trip changed the dynamics of my relationship with my grandmother forever. I am grateful for many things from my GlamourGals experience, but if I had to choose only one thing, it would be the influence it had over my relationship with my grandmother.