May and Mother's Day Memories with Nana

 

Nana at Wendy's May 2017

This picture from May 2017 came up on my Facebook memories. It’s one I took of Nana enjoying her Wendy’s lunch—junior hamburger plain, a chocolate Frosty, a small Sprite and a few of my French fries with catsup.

It’s hard to believe six years have passed. I notice all the things I miss about her. Her perfectly coifed snow-white hair, her pure skin with less wrinkles than anyone would expect of a 93 year-old lady, her painfully crippled arthritic fingers clutching her burger, and her naturally pink lips.

Nana and I always celebrated Mother’s Day early. Her favorite spots to eat were Wendy’s and The Fence in Lewisburg, where we both enjoyed the delicious fish sandwiches.

Nana liked practical gifts for Mother’s Day—M&M’s, KitKats, Word Find Books and Sun Gazette Newspaper subscriptions. Nana used to say, “I don’t need stuff to sit around and collect dust.”

Although it’s easy to think we’ll always have the ones we love, I knew every day we had Nana in our lives was a bonus. But facing my third Mother’s Day without Nana makes me miss her even more than I do every other day.

I remember the big celebrations. Like Nana’s 75^th Surprise Birthday Party (she did NOT appreciate the surprise), or her 90^th Birthday Bash with lots of family and friends and food.

But the memories that often pop into my mind are the small things. Like the times watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy together, having Nana read the Sun Gazette to me, and our lunches at Wendy’s and The Fence.

Happy Mother’s Day Nana. I'll love you forever. 

Nana at The Fence 2016