Kind

 When you think of a woman who projects your thoughts to awesome you might think of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. I have only read stories of her kindness, benignant, considerate. good-natured, charitable, benevolent. She would talk to strangers, even when she was with her Secret Service agents. Her popularity as First Lady was due to her devotion to historical preservation of the White House for generations. Her devotion to her children which endeared her to the American public.

Our Nan was not a national icon but she was our hero. She used every breath of every day to focus on the health and well being of her children. Like the first lady Nan dressed impeccable with the few clothes that she could afford. She made every step look elegant. We walked together as a family two blocks to our church on Sunday holding hands and laughing. She was like the mayor of our neighborhood baking cookies for a family, taking dinner to someone sick, having children over when there was illness in another family. Our neighbors were always amazed how one woman could do so much for others.

Because she was a nurse she knew exactly what to when a playmate was injured during our rambunctious dashing around the streets, riding bikes, roller skating, climbing a tree. The priests in the church counted on her cleaning the alter with other ladies. Nan would be in the line for communion while assisting someone with crutches to get receive the holy communion. She was my mother so I expected all mothers to be like her. I was a product of my environment.

As I work in the food and beverage industry, I have met and waited on many remarkable women. Bette Midler is another woman who comes to mind. She would perform at the hotel I was employed, she would come down to breakfast instead of getting room service. She wanted to meet all of the employees. The crowds would gather but that did not bother her. These were her fans. They made her famous and she loved them.

The reason I began this blog is to pay tribute to a woman who was human and remarkable at the same time. I want readers to know who she was, where she came from, what she endured, how she loved the people who touched her life. She did not need notoriety, she needed to know you loved her back. Caring for Nan in her later years was fun. She knew she did the best she could for you as you were growing up and gave you the direction you needed. Not all the children followed the same path, but the structure was there if we took advantage of it.

Thank You Nan!