Differences.

My best memories are the long summer days I spent with my Grandma, we would bake cookies, play school, work in the garden and clean her house.  There were days I thought she was over working me, like the summer when I was 15 and I cared for both her and my grandpa, that summer she made me menu plan and scrub the wood floors (and I know she hadn't been scrubbing those on the regular).  My dad's mother reinforced the idea of working hard and valuing what you have, not what you wish you had.  I never saw her in a really fancy outfit, I don't think she owned in particularly special purse, piece of jewelry or shoes.  Her home was modest, but it felt huge to a little girl.  I hate to think how many coke floats we consumed together, she always liked hers with a little salt sprinkled on top.  We would work in the yard in the summer humidity until I couldn't see straight - and wash the heat away with a coke float.  

My best memories are the sleep overs I would have with my Grandma.  She never let me sleep alone, we always slept side by side, I think I was double digits before she quit worrying that I would fall out of the bed.  My mom's mother never baked, cooked or let me be her "teacher," but her jewelry collection, that she would let me peruse, was amazing.  The jewels were hidden treasure to a little girl.  She had amazing shoes too - high heels that I vividly remember tromping around in, and make up that she always let me look at.  She appreciated glossy magazines and fun parties, and I loved to soak it up with her.  

I had two grandmothers (both are still alive, both still influence me today) that were very much different.   And, it was awesome.  I didn't appreciate it when I was younger, I would ebb and flow between which grandma I thought had the better grasp on life.  It wasn't until adulthood that I began to appreciate how their differences made me able to relate to so many people.  One lady taught me to be a survivor, to scrape together fun no matter where you were and the other taught me how to enjoy your passions and embrace a good high heel shoe.   

We now all sit amongst the polar opposites - only instead of two ladies spoiling their granddaughter - it's opposites on political views, social norms, cultural experiences.  And it's tearing the country apart, not because one side is right and one side is wrong, no it's not that black and white.  It's because we all want to judge who is right and who is wrong.  

I for one am going to try to spend more time appreciating what others bring into my life, rather than judge how it should change to fit my ideal.  It doesn't mean I agree with everyone, it doesn't make me a push over. But being respectful of opinions and ideas is something we all have to do better at, even if one lady likes to roll up her sleeves and digs in the dirt and the other prefers vintage costume jewelry.