The second you walked into my Grandma Cora’s house you could smell the fragrance of onions, ginger, and garlic sautéing. She would swirl pancit noodles in her big pot and you could hear the music of the carrots and celery dancing as she added a splash of soy sauce.
No matter what time of day – morning, noon, or night – Grandma always had something going in the kitchen.
Sometimes she would invite me to the table to roll Filipino lumpia with the aunties. We would scoop little portions of filling onto the egg roll wrappers. Tuck-flip-flip-roll. Tuck-flip-flip-roll.
Their fingers would fly, and I would try to keep up. I loved to listen to their stories of growing up in Hawaii and later raising their kids together in the Bay Area.
Grandma had a rice vending machine at her house. She would send me with a little bowl and tell me to press the button for one, two, or three cups of rice. Then she’d pull out the stool so I could climb up and dump it into the rice cooker. She’d measure the water using the first line on her index finger. Grandma made me sweet rice balls for snacks and twice-boiled rice when I was sick.
Somehow Grandma could make some rice and a package of chicken legs stretch to feed a multitude. There were always cousins, neighbors, and strangers showing up at the table like hungry baby birds eager for Grandma’s cooking.
Her hospitality was paramount.
Her family, including six kids, immigrated from the Philippines to the Hawaiian islands when she was a girl. Their Filipino culture blended in with the locals. They embodied the Hawaiian spirit of aloha that extended welcoming arms to all. They had a way of making strangers into family.
My grandma was also creative. When she wasn’t making art in the kitchen, you could find her crafting, sewing, or singing. She took up oil painting in her late fifties, and every inch of her home was covered in framed canvases. Her greatest delight was in painting fuchsia-colored hibiscus flowers and crashing ocean waves.
When I was a young teen, she encouraged me to pursue my creative interests. She would jump on a plane and fly across the country to see me perform in a piano or dance recital or to cheer on my brother at the theater. Her courage to try new things encouraged me as young person.
Grandma had a deep sense of adventure and loved to travel. She worked for thirty years for United Airlines so she could enjoy the privileges of exploring the world with reduced-cost airline tickets. She and my grandpa took trips to places like Australia, Italy, England, France, Spain, China, and the Philippines. She loved to eat food with the locals and make new friends.
During my senior year of college, my vivacious grandma had a sudden heart attack and went into a coma. I flew to California to be by her side in those days of quiet waiting. Despite the machines and the tubes, she was the picture of peace. I didn’t want to believe it at the time, but she was ready to meet her Savior.
We held her wrinkled artist hands and sang hymns and her favorite hula songs to her. She couldn’t speak, but she squeezed my hand whenever I would sing. I knew she heard me.
Those music notes were the last exchange of the heart we had.
I hope one day that people will reflect on my life and they will recognize these gifts of generous hospitality, courageous creativity, a sense of adventure, and deep faith. Grandma certainly planted the seeds.
The morning Grandma Cora soared to heaven, my hibiscus plant bloomed on my front porch in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I stepped outside on that brisk May morning of my college graduation, and I knew in my heart she was gone. The earth could not hold her anymore. The Master Gardener had called her home.
Some of you may spend this Mother’s Day without your mamas and grandmas. There are many of us who will taste the bittersweet of this holiday because we will miss them.
I am reminded of Timothy and how Paul attributed to him the legacy of faith passed on by his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5). Friends, let’s acknowledge our losses, but let’s also embrace the opportunity to live the legacy of the courageous women who have gone before us.
Aloha, Grandma Cora.
*Dorina has written a children’s picture book called Cora Cooks Pancit that celebrates Filipino cooking, culture, and her grandma’s legacy. You can find details here.
Let’s embrace the opportunity to live the legacy of the courageous women who have gone before us. -@dorinagilmore: Click To Tweet
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Love this!
Thank you!
Beautiful tribute to a woman of courage and creativity!
Thank you for challenging readers to acknowledge our debt to the women who have built iron into our souls.
Thank you for your encouragement, Michele!
Dorina, this started my day off right and reminded me so much of my own grandmother, a little preacher’s wife whose mission was to feed the world. When my husband and I were dating he knew he better go to her house hungry. Love you, friend—-happy Mother’s Day!
Awww, I love that it reminded you of your grandma too, sweet friend!
What an amazing grandma you had. You are so blessed to have had her be an instrumental part of your life and upbringing! Thanks for sharing your story here. I never knew my grandma on my mums side, she lived in India and we lived in Australia. We met a few times when I was a baby and again when I was three I think. I always imagined her to be like that welcoming cooking for a big family and lots of cuddles. I’m nearly 40 and my view of her hasn’t changed I now know there was a big family with 8 children in my moms family and her house would have been constantly filled. Filled with love. I look forward to meeting her one day (I hope) in heaven. If we meet each other up there? Thanks for sharing!
Jas, thanks for taking time to share your story too! I knew I had to write this because it is a gift to have such a close relationship with a grandparent. God be with you this Mother’s Day!
Beautiful memories! I miss my sweet Granny too. It was amazing how a few small dishes could feed as many as came through her door. It always made me think of the loaves and fishes. My favorites – southern green beans, chocolate pie and cobbler. Yum.
Sounds delicious, Gail! I love that this sparked some of your food memories of your Granny too!
Dorina, this was food for the soul…my soul! I’m always drawn to stories of such rich roots built around the table with authentic fellowship and faith because this is how legacies are built. What a gift you’ve been blessed with… a legacy of faith, family, and food. And one, I’m sure you are well equipped to carry on.
Thank you for that encouragement, Crystal. Yes, a legacy build on faith, food, and family is exactly what I would like to continue. I love how you said that!
I barely knew my grandmas. They lived far away and none of us could afford to travel much. But I had a sweet mama and other “grandmas” in my life. These strong, sweet ladies blessed me richly. I’ll be thinking of these gals in the next few days and smiling at the memories.
Irene, I had a few “adopted” grandmas too. I’m glad you mentioned them because we can all honor those women who might not be blood related but God connected us with through our hearts and faith.
Dorina,
You are truly blessed to have had such a great upbringing. Thank you for sharing your wonderful story. It was captivating. I never got to know my grandparents as they died before I was born. Mom was an only child & dad lost one brother. My parents did leave a legacy with me. One memory I have is mom & I going strawberry picking. We would wear grungy clothes & pick a bunch of quarts of berries. She would make a wonderful no bake strawberry pie. In the past I would make brownies or something & go visit parents. Mom’s been gone 10 years now. Mother’s day is just another day for me. Now once a year we take my in-laws out to dinner & call it a combined mother’s/father’s day birthday & anniversary meal.
Blessings 🙂
Beth, I love the memory of strawberry picking and making pie. Those stories are part of your mama’s legacy. Thanks for sharing! Maybe it’s time to make some no-bake strawberry pie?!
Hello Dorina,
Your kind and loving words of your grandmother brought a nostalgic memory of my mom’s funeral. My daughter spoke of her at the funeral service and you both speak with so much detail of them (your grandmother’s). It brought comfort to me knowing that my daughter felt so much love for my mom, her grandmother and tonight reading your words brought me comfort. It’s only been a year since her passing but I truly feel that she is resting and watching over us.
Cristina, I’m so glad these details resonated with you. I’m sorry for your loss, but I love that you feel your mom is resting and watching over you. What peace! Bless you this Mother’s Day. May you have space to remember, grieve, and celebrate.
This was so sweet Dorina,
Thank-you for sharing your memories of your Grandma with us.
I hope that you have a blessed day,
Penny
Thanks for reading and encouraging, Penny!