The topic of your reflective essay is your encounter with an elderly (a family member, a relative,

a neighbor, or a stranger). It should be roughly 400 – 500 words long. Provide a catchy title for
your essay.

A Bittersweet Encounter
Written By: Angela Requina

When it comes to grandfathers and grandmothers, others would say that their fun and
energetic even though they are already old. For me, it’s not the case because I’m not
that close with my grandparents and I don’t get to talk to them always. Let me tell you all
about my encounter with my grandmother, Lola Teresita “Esit” Jordan. Year 2016,
September 1st, was the year my grandfather, my mother’s father, died. The ones who
first entered his room were my mother and my brother, they were going to wake him up
to eat breakfast, but there was no response. My mom’s sister was called from their room
to check on him and call an ambulance. I slept at the 3rd floor of my grandparents’
house because the day before September 1, my grandmother’s brother died of kindey
failure. Our family was still mourning the loss of Lolo Oscar and now, Lolo Pabs follwed
him to eteral life. How I found out was the most heartbreaking moment for me, while I
was walking down the stairs to the first floor, I crossed paths with my cousin, Manoy
Francis. He was crying and looked like he was in a hurry then he told me “Patay na si
Lolo” and then told everyone else on the floor. We all came rushing down the stairs
seeing the whole family in tears. My grandmother had high-blood pressure because of
the loss and was rushed to the hospital together with my grandfather, hoping that he
would be still alive but he was pronounced dead on arrival. Later on, my grandma now
has dimensia and has forgotten most of our name and the events that happened in the
past. I once talked to her, most of the time, she asked me my name and the names of
the people on the same floor as me. We would laugh when my grandma names the
person wrong. My aunt decided to make a booklet where grandma can see all of us and
know our names. When she sings while we are talking, her voice is soothing to the ear.
It was just a short conversion but it was memorable for me.