Nana

I have tried to blog about Nana since her death on June 29. Every time I sit down to write, I can't find the words or see through the tears. So here are a few of my thoughts; things I remember most and learned from Nana.

Trips to Woodward:

1. Me and my cousins would frantically find our shoes as we turned the last corner to get to Nana and Papa's house. Parents would issue warnings about not opening the door until the car stopped, and when it did we would race across the lawn and through the kitchen door to tackle Nana. Her small frame was always able to hug all of us at once.

2. She had stocked up on all the gandkid's favorite snacks. Frosted Flakes, Lucky Charms, Cheetos, Fruit Roll Ups, Capri Sun juice boxes, Kool Aid and ice cream! Nana always had the best stash of play dough, markers and every crayola color under the sun.

3. Papa would give us $20 as a gift and we felt like we had won the lottery! Nana would then take us shopping and buy A LOT more than $20 worth of clothes, shoes and accessories. When we got back to their house, she would tell us to model our new clothes for Papa. Papa thought we bought all those clothes for $20 he had given us and he would be beaming with pride at his grandchildren and their new wardrobe. Needless to say, we went home with the $20 in our bag.

4. Nana had the most beautiful collection of night gowns. She would let us put them on. My cousin Bridget would carefully use safety pins to make them fit better. Rubber bands make good rosettes and all sorts of clips would add flair. After hair and make up were finished, we would command the attention of all the adults in the living room and have a runway show. Even though we might loose some of the adults to conversation, Nana was front and center, complimenting every design and clapping for each "model."

5. Nana had some sassy high heels that we LOVED to play with! Black shiny pumps, snake skin pumps, peep toe shoes with heels so high we could not help but feel like a lady. Mine, and I think everyone's favorite pair of Nana's pumps were the purple ones! We (Bridget, me and Evva) would fuss with each other about who would get to wear the purple high heels! Nana would peek into the guest bedroom where we were playing with her night gowns and shoes. Even though EVERY shoe was pulled out of the closet and no longer in its original box; the room was strewn with silk night gowns of every color and length, she would smile the way only a Nana can when she is looking past such a MESS!

6. Every summer each grandchild would get a week with Nana and Papa by ourselves. Sometimes Evva and I would choose to go together. At night, Nana would lay down with us until we fell asleep. She would whisper several times in the dark "Always remember that Nana loves you very much." We would hold hands and she would squeeze so hard that it made my fingers feel cold. But even then, I knew it was because she loved with everything she had.

7. When it was time to go home, Nana would stand at the front door and would hug my parents first and would always save hugs for me until the last. Most of the time I was crying because I didn't want to leave. She would kiss kiss kiss over and over and hug so tight the air left my lungs and I literally could not breath in! But even then I didn't want her to let go! I loved her so much! Her and my sweet Papa would stand out in the yard and wave until we turned the corner.

Chickasha:

1. We had to rotate houses between each of the girls (Abby, Merita, Tammie). We never broke the cycle and we always kept track of where Nana and Papa were going to stay while in town. They would show up and everyone would be waiting at the house of whoever's turn it was to have them. When we saw the black Lincoln, (later it was red) coming down the street, we would go running out the door and into the driveway to greet them.

2. Nana and Papa lived 3 hours away, but every Thursday they would come to town to watch Evva and I cheer the Jr. High football game that night and then watch Bridget cheer and Bryce play football on Friday night! They would be decked out in purple and gold and CHS gear. Rain or snow, they were here! Every week!

3. We loved it when Nana and Papa finally moved here in 1998. They were here for my last year of high school. Nana would make the most awesome hamburgers for lunch. She would tell us to bring a friend and we were always proud to do so. She made everyone feel welcome, loved and cared for. Most of my friends felt they were surrogate grandchildren to Nana.

4. On that note, I have to mention that Nana was "Nana" to everyone! All mine and my cousin's friends would call her "Nana." She would introduce herself as Nana and if someone asked her her real name (which is Margaret or Maggie) she would say with a sweet smile "Nana." When people would ask about her, they would not say "how is YOUR Nana", they would simply ask, "How is Nana doing?" Even my mom's friends called her Nana. After a long time of calling her "Nana" most would ask, "what is Nana's real name?"

5. If you knew Nana, you would know that she did not believe in acting her age. She always wore the latest fashions, carried the most trendy purses, bought cute jewelry, listened to and loved country music, and had as many shades of blush and lip gloss as I do. She went to a George Strait concert about 18 months ago and she wore a suede vest with fur on the collar and her jeans tucked into ug boots with faux fur on them aswell!

6. Bryce went to OSU, Evva and I went to OU, Andrea and Kara went to OSU. Nana was for whatever team she was watching at the time! Always. I really don't know what team she liked the best. I honestly think she liked them both equally and only Nana could pull that off! She yelled "Go pokes" and "Go Sooners" with matched passion. Leave it to Nana to achieve the impossible! LOL!

7. She didn't miss anything! She went to cheer competitions, soccer games, pageants, homecoming, and posed for prom pics. She went to sorority Bid Day for her granddaughters, OU and OSU football games and basketball games. She went to Jon's UCO wrestling matches and graduation, wedding showers, baby showers, birthday parties, backyard parties, baptisms and birth of every great grandchild! She helped unpack dishes when Jon and I bought our first house. She was there with a hug and a big proud smile after closing.

8. Nana played hard! She had a one on one relationship with each of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She would always find her way to the floor (normally when there was no one in the room to stop her) to play with her great grandchildren. If Price wanted to bang on pots and pans, Nana would do it. She would build tall buildings out of blocks, just for the 5 seconds of joy that it gave Price to knock it down. Price went through a phase of loving MAC trucks. Nana was proud to impart knowledge because my Papa owned a trucking business. She would sit out on my parents front porch with Price and tell him about all the trucks that passed by. Price would get excited and start yelling and hopping around each time a truck came. Nana would get all worked up too! My mom and dad and I would stand back and laugh at her genuine enthusiasm which always matched or exceeded Prices. She would laugh at herself too, shrug her shoulders with her hands out and say "Well, he likes trucks!"

9. Just 5 days before Nana passed away, she was sitting in the chair at my parents house. Price and I came by to see her like we did everyday. When we got there she started asking Price all about wrestling camp and what he had learned. Price showed her a few of his new moves and she watched with with pure adoration. I made my way to the kitchen to make lunch. When I came out with the plates, he was sitting in the chair with Nana and she was reading him a book. She had him snuggled as close as she could get him, arms around Price, watching him speak every word. She would read part of the book and then in true Nana fashion, she would stop and ask questions about what he thought would happen next or talk about the details of the illustrations on the page. He smiled and giggled at her interpretation of the pictures. Price always savored her undivided attention and this day was no different. After they finished the book, I called him to the table to eat lunch. He grabbed another book and climbed back into her lap for more. Nana smiled at me out of the corner of her eye and opened another book. Fortunately sandwiches were being served for lunch, so it wasn't getting cold and it could and would have to wait.

10. Nana was always whispering "I love you bunches." or "I love you very much" when we would get hugs from her. We had hand motions that went with the words and ended in blowing a kiss. One Christmas, she made each of the great grandkids a teddy bear with a press button of her voice saying "Always remember Nana loves you very much." Well,all of us grandkids were feeling jealous of the bears that our children got, so we requested one for next year. Sure enough, the following Christmas, she recorded one and put it in a teddy bear for each of us..."Always remember Nana and Papa loved you very much"

It is hard to summarize Nana. I would have to say it is impossible to list all that she has done and all the ways that she loved her family. She is truly an original. There has never been a woman like her and I dare say there will never be another one like Nana. She rejoiced at our successes and she cried when we were heartbroken. She loved no matter what the cost. She was passionate, her love pure and her heart open! She was devoted to her Lord and spoke truth from his Holy Word to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She left a legacy that I can only hope to match.

I miss her! I miss her hands, her hugs and all her questions. I miss walking into my mom's house and seeing her face light up when we walk through the door. I missed the way she called me Whitney Dawn. She could make me feel so confident about being a wife and mother. Her wisdom always reminded me to not sweat the small stuff. I miss her simply being present. I am happy she is with Jesus. She is reunited with Papa and she waits for us to join them in heaven. She can breath deeply and walk without tiring. Though it seems like it wasn't long enough for those of us who loved her, she had a full life. I long to be with her someday, so I guess the best way to close is not to say "goodbye" to Nana, just "goodbye for now."