Honoring Nana on Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day and a day to honor all our veterans and their families.  Today always reminds me of the sacrifice of Nana and Daddy.  She had to move out of her comfort zone to leave home at the age of nineteen, never having been out of Elimsport, and take a train to be close to her soldier husband.  Here is how Nana describes it in one of her short stories:

April 1943 – 19 years old

I left Williamsport on the Pennsylvania Railroad bound for Austin, Texas with $30 in my pocket.  World War II was in full swing.  I changed trains in St. Louis and boarded the Katy lines.  In the seat across from me were two nice Southern girls.  They said, “Are y’all going plum to Tulsa?”  Not knowing Southern talk, I asked, “Does that mean all the way?”  They answered, “Yes.” 

The train was slow-moving and, while gazing out the window, I saw blue bonnets.  After three days and nights, I arrived in Austin.  I got a room at a boarding house on 1205 Nueces Street.  The landlady, whose name was Mabel Huckabee, was very nice.  She later got me a job at Steck Publishing Company.  I liked Austin, Texas a lot.

 Following is a poem she wrote about that job:

While living in Austin on Nueces Street

I needed some cash to make ends meet

While looking for a job one day

Mabel made a call and found a way

She called Steck’s, they said try Shipping Department

Help needed and that is where I went

I got a job wrapping letterheads all day

I liked my job a lot and that’s where I wanted to stay

Each day I walked to work down the streets

All went well with my job of many weekshe later got me a job at Steck Publishing Company.  I liked Austin, Texas a lot!

Although it was war time, Nana's experience in Austin is one of her best memories.  Daddy's service in the Army, although not his choosing, was probably the noblest thing he did in his life.

Nana and Daddy 1943



Nana Says Goodby to Her Brother John

Yesterday was the viewing and funeral for Uncle John.  I knew it would be a stressful day forNana but I am so proud of her for doing so well.  I was disappointed that I couldn't be with her but so grateful that Nana has four children.  Everyone helped.  Waybe picked her up and took her to the viewing and Sharon and Bill and Marcia helped to make sure she was taken care of every part of the day.
 

I'm especially grateful to my niece Lori who came from Delaware with her 2 year old son Ollie to visit Nana and go to the service.  Nana adores Ollie and Lori sent me this cute picture of Nana and Ollie eating cake at the meal after the service, although I think it was the frosting they both like the most. 

Nana was home by 2:30pm, tired but ready to give me all the details.  She told me that when they asked for comments from anyone during the service she knew she wanted to say something.  Sharon helped her get Pastor Mike's attention and she volunteered, "John and I used to walk everyday to Pikes Peak School."  It took a lot of courage for her to speak up and I'm so glad she did.

When she told me that she walked by the casket one last time, she got very choked up.  I know this is a sad time for her and she'll miss her big brother.  She went to the cemetary then returned to the church for the meal. I loved that she told me about Ollie eating his cake with his fingers.  When Lori pointed out that Nana was using her fork, he picked up his fork to try that too.  Nana told me he did better with his fingers and she got such a laugh about that.

Now Uncle Ben is her last living sibling.  I'm sure Nana will keep continue to stay in touch. 

Funerals are a good reminder to all of us to treasure everyday with the ones we love.

Nana, The Kid Sister

On Sunday, May 6th, Nana's older brother John died.  He was 91. He was a good man who lived a long and good life.  Thanks to my sister Sharon, Nana was able to visit with him while he was still able to talk and reminisce about his life.  By the time I arrived last Wednesday, he was not able to respond, but I believe he heard everything around him.  When Nana visited him that day, she talked to him and said, "John, it's your kid sister Deanie."  It made me think how no matter what their ages, she will always be the kid sister and he the big brother,even at 88 and 91.

Nana has lots of pictures of Uncle John when he was in the Army during World War II.  He and my dad were both stationed overseas during the war, Uncle John in the Middle East and Daddy in Italy. In those days there was no E-mail or Skype or Facebook.  The only communications were postcards, letters and pictures and those are priceless treasures to remind us of the sacrifices those servicemen and their families made for us.

At tomorrow's service Nana will say goodby to Uncle John.  Although it will be sad, I know she realizes how fortunate she was to have enjoyed being a kid sister to her big brother for 88 years.