When I was younger, I was often confused and almost jealous of other kids who had grandmothers that were amazing, loving, and warm. Growing up, I never really got a chance to have a relationship with my grandma before she passed away because she became very sick after I turned a year old.

When she passed away, I felt sad like any normal person would feel when a loved one passes away, but I wasn't as emotional as I thought I would be. That in itself made me feel extremely guilty that I didn't miss her as much as I would miss any other family member who has left us. I knew that wasn't my fault because I never got the chance to get to know her and it is not her fault because she was sick and going through dementia, her mind slowly fading away with her aging body.

I felt that I had missed out on the entire grandmother and granddaughter relationship and it made me sad knowing that she died before she and I could get to know each other as individuals.

A while after her passing, I wanted to know more about her and learn about the woman who raised my Dad. I often bugged my Dad like crazy, asking him what she was like and always joking about what she would say if she was still here with us. What I learned was that she was very excited to find out I was a girl, since I was the first granddaughter on my Dad's side of the family in over 30 years.

I'm also often told that I laugh just like her, which drives my mom insane. While looking through my parents' wedding albums, I looked at the pictures of her and was amazed at how much I looked like her. There were so many things both her and me had in common, but I still did not feel fulfilled in knowing who my grandma really was.

However, the one thing that my grandma and I both loved doing more than anything is: watching the "Golden Girls." Yes, I know, why would a 20-year-old be watching four old women living together in a house (Including my absolute favorite Betty White) when I could be watching The Kardashians or Stranger Things instead.

Well, when I first discovered the show, I was in awe by these women all living together either sharing a laugh, being sarcastic with each other or all of them coming together when one of them was in trouble.

My Dad told me that this show was probably her favorite show to watch. I didn't understand at first why my grandma liked this show as much as I love watching The Simpsons. However, as I continued to watch the show, I started to understand why it was so special to her.

My grandma was a strong woman who raised my Dad as best as she could. She was an independent woman who went through many hardships in her life, but she somehow was able to rise above it all and raise my Dad to be the man that he is today. As I watched the show, I felt that my grandma may have identified herself with the characters on it.

My grandma reminds me most of one of the main characters of the show, Dorothy Zbornak, played by Bea Arthur. Dorothy is a strong woman who learned to do things on her on her own after her ex-husband cheated on her and she grew into a more stronger and self-reliant individual who only needed the support of her friends and roommates.

I believe that the Golden Girls gave my grandma a sense of capability and independence that she probably never knew she had. I was surprised at how much I connected with my grandma as I watched Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia go on their crazy adventures. This show has also given me the opportunity to know who my grandma was and how amazing of a person she was for all that she went through in her life. All I wanted was to have a grandma who would be cheery and loving like other people's grandmothers. However, I gained much more than that.

I not only got an awesome show to watch, but I know that every time I turn the show on, I always feel and know that she is watching it with me. As I laugh at Rose telling a crazy story about St. Olaf (watch the show and you'll understand), I know were both laughing the same laugh that drives my mom mad.

Even though my grandma is not here physically, she is always with me as I sing along with the theme song "Thank You for Being a Friend". So if you ever catch me wearing my Golden Girl's shirt or hear me humming the show's theme song, that is just me telling my grandma how much I love and miss her.

I can never thank this show enough for bringing me closer to my grandma like I never had before. I hope to one day be as strong and confident as she was and how the Golden Girls were. Remember to always live like Rose, dress like Blanche, think like Dorothy, and speak like Sophia.