Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Our Nana was always full of life and love. It was rare when she didn't have a smile on her face. Even throughout the last few weeks of her life, she would be smiling at any visitor who came to see her.
I was blessed to have Nana close by these past few years, and my daughters were lucky to get to know her too. I will always remember Nana, Penny, and Kina (with baby Lucy in her arms) marching around the house in a circle playing marching band. Or Nana sitting on the floor playing toys with both Penny and Lucy from the time they were babies. Nana loved reading books to them too.
I also have memories with Nana from when I was a little girl. One of my favorites was during a family trip (to Virginia? DC? I don't remember the destination). We stopped at a gift shop, and I found a small Papa Smurf doll that I just couldn't live without. Nana bought him for me. Sometime during that afternoon, I lost Papa Smurf. We looked and looked for him, but he was gone. So instead of going home empty handed, Nana dried my tears and bought me a new Papa Smurf doll. I still have that Papa Smurf doll, which Penny and Lucy still play with.
Some of my other favorite memories with Nana from when I was a child: New Year's Eve celebrations with Nana at her home on Martin St, arriving at her house for a visit and being welcomed with a big pot of minestrone soup and Roman Meal bread with butter (Nana loved her butter!), playing in her backyard and smelling the fresh Dill that grew all around the house, summer visits sleeping on her downstairs couch, sitting on her lap admiring her "rock" (opal stone) ring.
Some of my favorite memories with Nana from my adult years: Nana at my wedding wearing a red plastic fireman's hat dancing the night away, receiving handwritten letters and cards from Nana while I was away at college, Nana and mom spending the night at my house when Penny and Lucy were babies, and of course our first cruise we took as a family with Nana, mom, Michael, and me.
The list goes on and on. Nana's legacy will live on through these memories and stories, which I share with Penny and Lucy. They will always remember their Nana too, and the 5 1/2 and 3 1/2 years they got to spend with her.
Rest in peace Nana. I know that wherever you are, you are enjoying wine, bread and butter, and smiling down at everyone that loves you.
Love, Jessica
