Revere

 Grandparents are an anomaly with families. In many cultures the grandparents live in the home of the oldest child, with wisdom and grace they rule the family. More often than not in America grandparents are a fixture in another place, another state, a nursing home sometimes with their siblings. In most recent years the grandparent raise their grandchildren alone, the parent is working maybe just abandons the child and the courts decide who will take the child.

Our niece always dreaded as the fall would decend on their northern Pennsylvania home. It meant Nan would be leaving for Florida to reside near her employers. All the children accompanied by their children would congregate together for one last meal to say goodbye. Nan's suitcase would be on the bed holding all of her things begging to be closed. This bright child would sneak up the steps with a prepared note for Nan. It always started out the same way.

Dear Nanny,

I am going to miss you so so so so so so so much! I love you so so so so so so so much! I can not wait for you to come back to Pennsylvania in the Spring to spend a few months with us before you have to go back to Florida again, next winter (insert a sad face).

You are the best,

B

This loving child was 9 and the hidden correspondence went on for 20 years. How do you hold someone tight when they are far away? Your memories bond you. Hand written notes were Nan's favorite way of communicating.

So when the blessed day arrived Nan's return back to their home town it was always on a school day. She would get off the bus and she would see Nan's white car in front of their home. She would run as fast as she could down the road, projecting herself like a rocket through the door. She knew Nan was there because she could smell the mixture of Pall Mall cigarettes and spray starch with Nan ironing. She loved as that smell floated through the house. The first thing Nan would say to B when she saw her running is "there is my Beffer."

There was always a gallon of chocolate milk and two gallons of ice cream in the freezer. Nan stopped at the store before coming home to share her favorite foods with her favorite grand daughters. That is what she did every year. This was Her Nan. The best Nan in the world.

Nan had so many  grand children how did she make them all feel special. You would have to ask them all separately because each one was special in their own unique way. Hugs Galore!


Way to Go B!

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