As my family walked off the plane, I could barely contain my excitement.   Immediately as we got into the terminal the cold, dry weather of Michigan was replaced by the familiar heat and humidity of Florida. We crossed the busy and ethnically full airport in search of my grandma, who was picking us up.  After a long day of traveling  I was anxious to see my grandma and go to her house.  It had almost been three years since we visited her and my grandpa.   As we rode the gum infested escalator down to the pickup area, I spotted my grandma awaiting our arrival.  As I greeted her the faint scent of lavender soap and shortbread cookies filled my nostrils. 
Her and my mom chatted a mile a minute catching up on everything.  All I heard over and over again was my grandma saying “You live eight states away, that’s too far. It’s unhealthy for a grandmother to only see her grandchildren every three years! You never call me!” I soon tuned out their banter because all I was thinking about was seeing my grandpa. He was waiting back at their house because the trip to the airport is too long. I was so excited to see him because he was my favorite person in the world. 
Up  until 5 years ago my grandparents lived in Michigan where so many memories of my childhood were created.   My grandpa and I grew very close from spending so much time together. We practically did everything together, from hanging out and watching TV to playing dominoes and taking long walks.  It  had been a long, three years since we had seen each other and I missed him so much. I knew that once we got to the house we would see him sitting in his recliner on the screened in porch, enjoying the sun.
Sure enough as we pulled into the driveway of their little stucco style house on the end of the street, I saw him sitting there looking onto the pond, littered with alligators.   He didn’t hear us at first but as we approached he got up and walked towards us with a beaming smile upon his face.  Suddenly,  I was engulfed by his warm embrace and the scent of stale cigarettes and aftershave.  A smell that only I seemed to love.  I didn’t want the moment to end. 
After all the pleasantries were exchanged everyone started talking at once.  My grandparents talked with us all afternoon, wanting to know every little detail of our lives that hadn’t been shared due to lack of visitation and communication.  As if time sped itself up, it was soon time to go. I didn’t want to leave my grandparents because I knew it would be a long time before I saw them again. Once more I was held in my grandpa’s embrace, not wanting our visit too end.  I said my goodbyes with tears clouding my eyes.  As I walked out of the door I looked over my shoulder and saw that familiar scene of grandpa sitting in his recliner on the screened in porch.