Page 12 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Spring 2022 - Online Magazine

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Senior
Senior
Pattie and Kelly Archer

Not Just Nice,

but Incredible

by Brock Wade

ost grandparents are nice. and Man have made their very best Probably the biggest life lesson
They let you have extra effort to be at every single game, they’ve instilled in me is that “people
Mdesserts and send you a card tournament, and team family event. matter”. Man’s job necessitated
on your birthday. If you’re real lucky, You name it, and they’ve shown up his traveling all around the United
they won’t try to buy you clothes for if at all possible. Distance, weather, States, working with people of
your Christmas present, based on crazy hotels, team victories, team various backgrounds and cultures.
their own fashion sense. They may losses – they’ve been there. It didn’t He learned about and respected the
know what your favorite activities matter if I was sitting on the bench people he was working with and
and interests are, but they probably or was one of the starters. Their was intentional about getting to
don’t know the names of your friends support for me and for my team was know them. Gram previously had a
and definitely wouldn’t recognize unwavering. They know the names job where she worked with families
them. My grandparents aren’t just of my teammates, the snacks that the whose children were critically ill.
nice; my grandparents are incredible! other parents like, and who the next She provided a listening ear, an open
My grandparents are some of my opponent is. While watching games heart, and lots of encouragement to
most favorite people in the world, wasn’t a huge sacrifice for them, families facing dark days. I’ve learned
and I consider it a privilege to have since they love competition, they from them that “I don’t always
such a close relationship with them. have sacrificed time and money and know when I will have another
rearranged job schedules to be there. chance to interact with someone, so
Gram and Man (known to adults Their belief that “memories matter” I had better take advantage of every
as Pattie and Kelly Archer) hold a is something that’s made a big impact opportunity I have with a person.”
place in my life that no one else does. on me.
When I was born, my family actually Recently, Gram has been diagnosed
lived in the same house with them, They’ve also lived out the motto that with a progressive neurological
as we were in the process of buying “it’s better to give than receive”. disorder. My whole family is
another home. My mom tells stories Their generosity knows no bounds. heartbroken and devastated by this
of Man (my grandfather) taking the Of course, we grandkids have been news, as we never envisioned this
late shift (11:30pm - 2am most nights) beneficiaries of this so many times. being part of our family’s story. Gram
with me so she could sleep. Man is a But more than that, I’ve witnessed has always had more energy and
night owl, and I guess I was too. The them be incredibly giving to my go-go-go in her than any of the rest
bond that Man and I share, which has friends, to other people that my of us. However, even in the middle
grown to include a love for all sports, family knows, and even to strangers. of this health struggle, I’m finding
a good business acumen, a sense of It’s obvious to me that they don’t more ways that my grandparents
humor that means we can always give out of obligation but out of an are truly amazing. Man is incredibly
find something to laugh at, and a abundance of love for others. This patient as he gently cares for Gram
knack for finding a good deal, started desire to help others has made me and helps her with whatever she
early. We’ve allowed Gram to join our want to continue that legacy; I want needs. He’s still making her laugh,
group, and for years, her job was to to be known as someone who is and he’s still reminding her that he
make sure we behaved. generous in all ways and helps others would choose her again and again
in as many ways as I can. as his beautiful bride. Gram has had
Since the age of five, athletics has the most positive attitude adjusting
played a huge role in my life. Gram to our ‘new normal’ and still wants

12 Amarillo Senior Link