Nana had a wooden spoon. She kept it in a kitchen drawer that was about eye level to a child-sized me. When I would act up, she’d take me by the hand and bring me to that drawer, take out the wooden spoon and tell me that if I didn’t stop, she’d shoot me “to the moon” with it.
Sometimes I would go on my own to that drawer, take out the wooden spoon and examine it closely, wondering just how it would feel if she ever actually used it for that purpose. Because, of course, she never did.
***
As children, Audrey and I were determined to grow up to be waitresses. We lived out that fantasy whenever we went to Nana’s. She had a little cupboard that housed a lot of things we couldn’t touch – “Papa’s things” – but also all of our “play restaurant” paraphernalia.
Nana would humor us and play along as we went through the entire dining experience – from “How many today, Mrs. Couto?” to “I just talked to the chef and we’re out of that today. Can I get you something else?” to “That will be $42.50 for that plastic banana and cup of ice.”
***
Running through the sprinklers in Nana’s back yard was a favorite summer pasttime. One hot summer day, when we were probably about 6 and 4 years old, respectively, Audrey and I must have forgotten our bathing suits… but it was too perfect of a running-through-the-sprinklers type of day to pass up.
So Nana took two pairs of her underwear – real Granny panties – put a pair on each of us, and clothespinned them at our shoulders. Voilà! I don’t know what made me and Audrey laugh more, the joy of the refreshing sprinkler or seeing each other enveloped in flesh-colored Granny underwear.
****
Sometimes if I had to stay home from school sick, I would stay at Nana’s house, as Mom and Dad were both teachers. Nana would make me homemade chicken noodle soup and hot tea, and set me up on the reclining seat of her couch with my own tray and call me “dahlin’.”
I would watch TV or read her stash of People magazines. She always had a steady supply because she would renew her subscription each year for our school’s magazine drives.
***
Nana loved to entertain and cook, and she was particularly famous for a few things: her pasta sauce (or as she called it, “gravy”), her meatballs, her baked beans, her deviled eggs and her famous rolled snickerdoodle cookies.
She gave me the recipe for her snickerdoodles and I tried to make them once. Saying I didn’t have Nana’s touch is putting it mildly.
***
Until her health started declining in her latter years, I never saw Nana sitting down, just doing nothing. She always had her hand in something – cooking, baking, knitting, crocheting, volunteering at the Knights of Columbus.
In the early days of my dad’s printing company, I remember we would all go to Nana’s house and sit around her kitchen table, collating, folding, labeling, stapling. And of course, eating Nana’s delicious food. She loved having her family and lots of activity around her.
***
Nana was one of the strongest women I’ve ever known. I remember her telling me that the night she had one of my uncles, my Papa had friends over to watch “the fight.” She knew she was in labor, but didn’t want to say anything until the fight was over. So she paced around her house having contractions.
She barely made it to the hospital to deliver her son.
***
Nana was born on March 9, 1919. She married my Papa, Joe, in September of 1940. They were married for 57 years, until his death in 1998.
They had three boys – Stephen, Barry and Richard. Nana loved her boys. They, along with my mother – Nana’s daughter-in-law of 32 years – are at the hospital with her as I type this, holding her hand as she peacefully passes on.
She had 9 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
It is the duty of us, Nana’s children and grandchildren, to preserve her legacy for all those great-grandchildren she loved to much – and the generations of family to come.
Nana was so much more than the matriarch of our family. She was truly the glue, the center. I don’t know what we are going to do without her.
But I thank her for raising my dad as the wonderful, loving man, husband, father and grandfather he is. I know how much joy it brought her to see him become a grandfather 9 times over.
And I thank her for the grandmotherly love and patience she always showed me.
A few months ago, we were reminiscing together about how Audrey and I loved playing waitress at her house.
“We were pretty cute, weren’t we, Nana?” I asked her.
She smiled. “The cutest, dahlin’.”
And I know she meant it. Even when I deserved to be sent to the moon.
Nana surrounded by many of her great-grandchildren, September 2007
She looks like a wonderful person that lived a very fulfilling life. Thank you for sharing!
This is beautiful.
Thank you for writing this memoir of your Nana. I am so sorry for you loss. She sounds just like my Mummo was. Amazing, caring and always helping others. Mine passed away 6 years ago.
Jane, hang in there.
I wish everyone had a Nana like that. I did, and she worked taking care of “old people” clear into her 90’s!!! This is a wonderful tribute not only to your Nana, but to all of our Nana’s. Thanks, Jane!
What a wonderful post and what a way to celebrate an amazing woman.
what a beautiful tribue and spectacular picture. my thoughts are with you and your family.
Well… you officially have me smiling through tears. Ahh.. the underwear bathing suits. Perhaps Nana was WAY ahead of her time… Oh Janie, she loved you and I. Her girls. She had her boys first, and then her girls. Let’s keep making each other smile, she wants that… Love you tons,
Audge
Lots of hugs and prayers for all of you. What a lovely tribute.
I love the way you and your sister adore your Nana. Really beautiful. She is obviously very great to have that much love and respect.
Jane, you crack me up- this was wonderful to read! I just read Audrey’s post and am crying into my shirt here, and now I read this and know that angels must be celebrating the arrival of your Nana today!
Steph
Jane, I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Your family has been in my thoughts and prayers all day.
As you know, my Nana was so very much the lifeblood of our family. I have the distinct feeling that just as your Nana was the lifeblood of yours, your momma will step up to be the next matriarch of your wonderful family, and her & your dad will continue those wonderful traditions – and you and your siblings will be in charge of the legacy – of which I have no doubt that you’ll all do her a FINE job 🙂
Jane,
Thank you for sharing those beautiful and wonderful memories with us. I was also very close to my grandmother and she meant the world to me, and she has affected my life dearly!!
Blessings,
Ronnie
Your Nana sounds like a lady who was as amazing as she was blessed. I’d say Heaven is lucky to have her today. I’m sorry for your loss, Jane. I’m sending hugs to your whole family.
what a beautiful tribute to your nana. I’m sure she is smiling down from heaven on you right now.
What a beautiful tribute to your Nana, Jane! 🙂
It’s wonderful to have all those fond memories of her that you can pass on for posterity to hear.
I’m sorry for your loss. I have lost both my grandfathers, and know how hard it can be when a loved one passes. Love and hugs to you and your family.
xoxo
Jane,
I am so sorry. She sounds like an extrordinary woman. You will be in my thoughts and prayers!
-Heather
I’m sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you and your family.
Awww Jane… these stories are a hoot. I was cracking up at the granny underwear. Reading your’s and Audrey’s post it really sums it up you had an awesome Nana. So special and you can see it through ya’lls writings of her.
I am so sorry that you all are going through this. Big (((HUGS)))
Jane, those stories were beautiful. Some made me tear up, the granny panties one made me laugh. So many special moments you will always remember. I can see your Nana meant the world to you.
I hope someday (in years & years) I get to be a Nana as special as yours 🙂
Hugs to you
~Jennifer (weddingblogger from twitter)
Lovely to read!
Christina
tags-n-stones
I’m very sorry about your loss. What a wonderful woman. Thinking of you …
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. She sounds like a very special woman. God bless you and your family.
I am truly truly sorry. Thanks for sharing about your Nana. Praying for all of you.
Your nana sounded like a beautiful woman inside and out. Thank you for sharing her with us. God Bless you all.
What a beautiful tribute to “your” Nana. I could only dream that one of my grandchildren, would say such kind things and have such fond memories to share.
This should be an inspiration to every “Nana”:-)
tDMg
LdsNana
Your Nana sounds like she was so much fun. Between you, your mom and Audrey, you have described such an amazing woman. I love that she was into “pocketbooks” and People Magazine. I would’ve gotten along so well with her!
And that picture? Just wow. How blessed she was to have so much love surrounding her. She is just beaming in that photo.
You all blessed her with a wonderful life. I hope that brings you a little bit of comfort at this difficult time.
Thank you for sharing her with all of us. I’m praying for you, Jane, and all of your family.
I am so sorry to for your loss. That was a beautifully written post.
Thank you so very much for sharing your grandmother with us. You are blessed indeed.
I too loved my blessed Grandmother. And now I am a Grandmother of 3. I am blessed indeed.
I am so proud of my family, and I know others are too I started an apparel and goods company for Grandmothers. http://www.grandmothersontherun.com
Enjoy, have fun, and thanks again for sharing.
Madelyn