MY GRANDMOTHER! MY ANGEL FIGURINE

Like our genes, many of the things that make us unique are passed down from parent to child. Paul here. I'm a guitarist by trade and an angel figurine collector by fun. I got interested in figurines from my grandma, who is now eighty years old. Please excuse her age, but she's about sixteen years old.

Now, let's return to the winter of 2012 when we had our usual Christmas dinner at Grandma's. I would never miss it because she makes the best plum cakes in the world. I sometimes exaggerate, but I wish I could put into words how happy I am to be able to tell you this story. This means that if I go on and on with my comments, it's because I'm too excited.

Let's return to the dinner table, where there was a heated debate about bringing Obama back to work. Politics aren't my thing, even though I'm a singer-songwriter. Andrew, my dear cousin, made some juicy and soft barbecue chicken, so I was looking for a reason to do something. I found it when I set up the BBQ grill oven. The chicken is on the grill, and there is a heated argument at the table. Things are ready for the evening. Right then, my eyes landed on a small item that made me feel like I had seen it somewhere before. This feeling is called déjà vu. When I asked Grandma about it, she told me it was a gift from my grandfather to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. Even though the angel figure was ancient, it was spotless and well cared for by Grandma. "Our trip around the world makes me think of him." This little model helps me remember all those thrilling times in seconds. We only walked together yesterday to the Taj Mahal or Chichen Itza. They saw much of the world together because my grandfather worked in tourism. Thanks to my songs, I'm also living some of that life. But that little talk with my grandmother got me so interested in figures that I've collected over 100 of them in less than ten years, and I can't get enough of them. To remember each place I visit, I always bring one of them back with me. What better way to honor such a busy life and all its happy moments? But the reason I was gathering them was for my grandmother. Every time I gave her a figure, the happiness on her face made it all worth it. I will keep her memories alive with this 3D model of her smile. I wish she could see it.

COLLECTIBLE ANGEL FIGURINES

CUSTOM MADE ANGEL FIGURINES

A friend of mine bought a custom-made angel figurine for his fiancée, which gave me the idea. I loved the fine details and cuts. Also, it only took a few weeks to deliver, so I chose to get one for my grandmother right then and there.

She died three years ago, but in two months, we will be enjoying her 80th birthday. Our memories of her will last forever, and this figure is just a small way for me to honor the life of a woman who put the happiness of others ahead of her own and would do anything in her power to make people smile. But that angel figure, which I now own because my grandmother gave it to me for Christmas, seems to have more charm than anything else. It will always remind me of my angel, my dear grandmother. It's incredible how a tiny figure can make you feel so emotionally charged, right?