Short and sweet: Grandma’s reaction to same-sex love

My grandmother was around 84 years old when I told her that I was in a loving same-sex relationship. I told her via a letter. 

I was a bit nervous sending her the letter knowing that my grandmother was a devout Christian. Born and raised as a Catholic, she is ever faithful to her religious beliefs. But since she is the most important figure in my life, I wanted her to know about my relationship.

I wanted her to meet the love of my life.

My grandmother has a big heart and I have to at least give her a chance, I told myself. So I sent out the letter.

I think a couple of days later, she gave me a call. In a cheerful and upbeat voice, my grandmother said 5 simple words in two short sentences. 

Short and sweet

I have never felt so happy hearing those 5 words: “Good morning. Everything is alright.”

A few months after, me and my girlfriend flew to my province to visit my grandmother. Upon seeing us, she gave us warm hugs.

Mommy, as we fondly call her, welcomed my girlfriend, Michee, to the family with loving arms. I would often find them having conversations. I would hear Mommy asking Michee if she understood what she said. Mommy would then laugh after realizing that she was speaking to Michee in our native dialect. 

Michee would always say that Mommy would start her stories in English then switch to Tagalog, then eventually switch to our native dialect (which Michee doesn’t speak and understand). So most of the time, Michee would only get two-thirds of their conversations.

In one of our visits, my grandmother had a serious talk with us, asking about our future plans. We shared our dreams with her.

For me, hearing and seeing an 80-plus-year-old person treating us as a normal couple – and giving us financial, business and relationship advice – was a very touching moment I would always treasure.

Unconditional love

Michee made sure that we visit Mommy at the very least, once a year. On those visits, we’d take her out on dates and just spend time with her. 

Mommy, at times, would bring us along to wherever she needed or wanted to go, whether it was a meeting with friends or various groups and organizations she belonged to.

Every time we had to say goodbye, my grandmother would always say that we should extend our stay. Sadly, we couldn’t. But we kept in constant communication after returning to the city.

Michee and I spent around 4 years with my grandmother.  She passed away in November 2013. I would always remember Mommy’s kind and loving ways. She surely had a big heart and a very open mind. And I am very lucky to have had her as my grandmother.

She made us experience a world that is accepting. She showed us that even with our differences in beliefs and views, love can win.  (READ: Dear god, why the love ban?)

 

And love will always win if we choose it.

I love you, Mommy. Thank you for loving me unconditionally. Thank you for loving Michee and treating her as family. – Rappler.com

Alla Majal Camacho is a writer, a dog lover, and a sometime poet. Together with her partner Michee Santos, they founded Love is Love, a small business/advocacy sharing the message of love, equality, and acceptance. 

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