THE APRICOT TREE

This post is dedicated to my beloved grandparents. They were the best part of my childhood and the reason for my survival. They provided the financial and emotional stability and the calm and loving atmosphere every child needs to thrive. We had drama, conflict, and all sorts of financial disasters you could imagine. A decision was made to build and expand our grandparents' house and we stayed there. I was born and raised there up until my late twenties. The only interruptions were the Iraq war in the eighties and a brief three-year immigration to South Africa when I was around 12. My dad was a land surveyor, he was not permanently employed and oftentimes after finishing a project, he would not have an income until he found something else. We did not have to worry about the rent or even groceries most of the time. Most of my sweet childhood memories come from Grande's house. I often complain that my little two-year-old has to sleep in our bed and she panics when she wakes u...