“Grandma’s house:
Where cousins become
best friends.”

One of the best things I heard from time to time during my childhood was when my mother would tell my siblings and me, “The Kellys will be there.” The Kelly kids were my first-cousins on my mother’s side of the family. They lived in Daly City and it was always a special occasion when our families would get together. Most of those gatherings took place at my maternal grandparents’ home in The City.

Knowing that the Kellys would be there guaranteed that we were sure to have a good time — and we always did. Even that Easter Sunday morning in the mid-60s when I accidentally kicked a football through the front window of my grandparents’ house, we still managed to have a good day. My maternal grandfather passed away in 1968 when I was in eighth grade. Even before that, we always referred to the Marsily Street home as “Grandma’s house.” Through my high school years, knowing that my six Kelly cousins would be there continued to make going to Grandma’s house something to look forward to. 

Last night was another delightful night at our home in San José. “Grandma and Grandpa’s house” is now our home. When Tom and Hillaray’s two kids meet up with Steve and Morgan’s three kids in our home, I am constantly reminded of those days in the 1960s when we would get together with the Kellys. Liam and Emily are a bit older than Penny, Scarlett, and Henry, yet they patiently play with them and allow them to be the younger cousins they are. The younger ones adore the older ones, making for consistently pleasant interaction throughout their visits. Such was the case last night.

I don’t know this for sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised if all five of the grandkids referred to our home as “Grandma’s house,” or using the terminology they prefer to use, “Mama’s house.” Grandmothers have traditionally been the glue that keeps families together. I’m fairly certain this is true of our family, too. The kids love their “Mama,” and Mama loves those five kids. It has been an absolute joy for me to see the bonds between them develop through the years.

As 2025 comes to an end, I am grateful that these relationships exist. I am grateful that all five of our grandkids enjoy being with each other (except for the predictable sibling spats from time to time.) And I appreciate that all five of them enjoy spending time at Mama’s house. They seem to feel very much “at home” here.