Sharon and I are Nana’s girls. It doesn’t matter Nana has
passed away. It doesn’t matter two years ago today, Sharon passed away. Sharon
and I will always be Nana’s girls.
Sharon and I were a team on everything Nana.
We were together in 1969 when we convinced Nana it was time to leave Daddy. As
Nana sat in a drafty, rundown house with no teeth in her mouth, Daddy was
cheating on her with other women and drinking away the household money. Sharon
and I were both on our own and promised to help her. We helped her find a place
to live and get dentures for the first time in fifteen years. Over the years, along with our
brother Bill, we helped her move, helped her buy cars and helped
with home repairs.
When Nana lost her factory job at Montgomery Mills, Sharon
helped. She offered Nana a new career as a caregiver for daughter Lori and
later her son Jeff. In return, Nana took tender care of Sharon’s loved ones—Lori
and Jeff and any animals in the house like Thumper the bunny and Frosty the
African Gray.
As Nana aged, Sharon and I coordinated phone calls to check on her
day and night. I did the daytime check-ins and Sharon was the nighttime gal.
For years, Nana called Sharon every night before she went to bed. She often
talked to Sharon’s voicemail but she never failed to call. And Sharon always
checked for Nana’s call.
During my monthly visits, one of Nana’s greatest joys
was when Sharon joined us on our outings to May’s Restaurant or The Fence.
Sometimes just Sharon and I got together for a quick ride while Sharon took her
kitties to the vet, or a fast run to get a soft serve ice cream cone. Nana was
always so happy when ‘her girls’ hung out together.
As Nana’s girls, Sharon and
I coordinated care for Nana’s health. We discussed and agreed about her doctor’s
appointments, medications and supplements. Together, we found creative ways to
get Nana to eat more food and drink more fluids, even if that was Kentucky Fried
Chicken, KitKats and Sprite. Later, we communicated with Nana’s care helper
Cindy about all of Nana’s wants and needs. Because Nana’s girls knew her the
best.
As the only surviving one of Nana's girls, I'm lonely today and miss them both so much. The years we all had together weren't enough. I want another fish sandwich lunch together at The Fence. I want more phone conversations with Sharon about Nana and, well, just everything. I want another of Sharon's famous 'selfies' of all of us together.
My only solace is now Nana is with one of her girls and someday Nana and 'her girls' will be reunited.
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| Diane and Sharon - Nana's Girls - November 2019 |
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| Nana and Jan and Diane and Sharon November 2019 Selfie by Sharon |
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| Nana and her girls, Sharon and Diane February 2020 The last time we were all together in person. |
