We all have those moments when our parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles embarrass us with their affinity to old, worn out garments or peculiar ways of dressing.
 
The socks with the holes, they refuse to discard, or the loud tie they hold dear because it has sentimental value, or their eccentric ways of dressing, in order to display their individuality.
 
Although their choice of fashion may make sense to them, as youngsters or the future generation, we are usually repulsed or taken aback by their flambuoyancy to sport their self expression.  We wish they would take advise from us and enter into the new era of fashion fads and cutting edge designs.
 
Granny Gheeta always made me cringe every time she showed up at my school wearing her sparkly sarees and her head covered as if she was an Albanian refugee. No one else's grandmother dressed as if she was always going to a Ball, but my Granny Gheeta was the exception to the rule.
 
Each day that Granny Gheeta came to retrieve me from School, I would play a game of hide 'n' go seek, because I was embarrassed. Her way of dressing always created a big commotion and I felt that she made me stick out like a sore thumb. Therefore, I would hide in the piano room or underneath the stairwells at school hoping that Granny would get exasperated and go away.  But, as any sincere, devoted grandmother would do, she remained vigilant and tenacious searching for me until I was found. She sashayed all over the schoolyard making her presence more obvious and ruining all my chances of being considered "cool".
 
I would often enlist the help of my classmates to play "lookout" for me. I would say, "Can you describe to me what Granny Gheeta is wearing today?"
 
I would pray to God that she was wearing western styles instead of her sarees. I much preferred when Granny wore her english fedoras, and lovely, floral printed dresses. It made her seem more normal and it didn't raise too many eyebrows in the schoolyard.
 
If my friends reported to me that Granny Gheets had on a saree, I would go into hiding, hoping she would get tired and leave, then my father would have to pick me up. Although he was a bit over the top, at least he did not draw nearly as much attention as Granny Gheeta did.
 
Granny Gheets shamelessly paraded her Indian heritage. She did not care if folks stared at her strangely, or if the weather was sweltering. She sauntered around like the Queen of Sheba and slowly tried to enlist me in her fashion army.
 
She would comment, "Gee, it's such a shame they don't allow you to wear sarees at school...Huh? Wouldn't it be nice?"
 
In my mind, I was thinking, "No Granny, it would not be nice...I just want to be normal. Thank you very much."
 
Instead I just nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes, Granny, that would be nice."
 
Crossing my fingers that the day would never arrive when I had to wear a saree to school.
 
However, Granny's zeal did not end there. She went on a one woman mission to create Heritage Awareness. Every conversation she had with the teachers would include a remark or two of gentle persuasion....."Wouldn't it be nice if the children could wear costumes explaining their different heritages? or "It was always a lifelong wish of mine to see the grandchildren wear sarees to school....... I don't know how much longer I will be around, but it would be a dream come true."
 
By the time Granny would finish appealing to everyone's conscience, there were only sighs of sympathy heard in the schoolyard.
 
Granny did not stop until they created a Heritage Day. She was determined to have me parade up and down the school in a saree, turning me into a little Gheeta. Then all my friends would ask...."What in the world is Magli wearing today?"
 
After wearing sarees a couple of times, I realized it won me kudos with my friends. It seemed to have the opposite effect of weirdness....They began to think I was super cool and different.
 
I didn't know it then, but Granny Gheeta was always trying to teach me the importance of being unique. It had its own magical powers. embracing who you really are makes others view you in a different light. It sets you apart from the rest of the competition.
 
The accolades I received from "Heritage Day" made me fanatical about sarees. When Granny finally decided to appease me with dressing more modern, I would be the one coaxing her to wear the most elaborate saree she had in her closet.
 
I would constantly question her, "Granny, when are we going to go saree shopping again?"
 
She would answer, "In due time....."
 
Granny's lessons were usually gradual and subtle. Eventhough, she had exposed me to part of my culture, she felt the rest would be up to me in due time and season.
 
In Jamaica they have a saying, "You can lead a horse to the water, but you can't make him drink it."
 
In Granny Gheeta's mind, she felt that only time would tell if I developed a genuine affinity to my indian roots.
 
After all the years of running away from Granny because of her outrageously, elaborate sarees and headress , I have become a mini version of her. Sometimes making a spectacle of myself while displaying my roots.
 
People may whisper or pass snide remarks, but like my grandmother, I really don't care. So while they are questioning, "What is she wearing?"
 
I am envisioning my Granny Gheeta smiling down on me from Heaven.
 

Tags: "What is Granny Gheeta Wearing Today?"