I am the
oldest grandchild and thus, the reason for her most beloved nickname. When I
was born, she decided that she wanted to be called Nanny. Nanny &Poppa. For the longest time, I didn't even know
their real names. They were Pop & Nan.
I even still address their cards & pictures to Pop & Nan
Nicholson. :) And, Thankfully my other grandmas are not present, since I
wouldnt want them to know that she was my favorite. My sister Nicole, lil brother Shawn, cousins:
Kayla, Jake, Sasha & Jeff, & I will agree that she was the BEST
grandma. My sister will agree that she was the BEST Great grandma. I have SO many wonderful memories with her
and I'm thankful for that.
When we were
kids, Nic & I would spend a month or so down in Arizona during summer
break. WE LOVED getting to be there with Pop & Nan. She had such a fun
personality. Most days we didn't do anything
but hang out with her & had great time! She told the best stories,
sang the funniest riddles & was a terrific cook, gardener & artist. I
think I may get my craftiness from her. More recently I remember her saying she
wanted to be a cute little granny. And she was. She always wore the most
adorable hats & jewelry. As kids, Nic
& I LOVED playing with her jewelry & dressing up (even decorating Pop a
time or two!) The only time I remember her raising her voice to me was the
summer I was 12 years old & we were staying with them in Page. I remember
it so specifically, because my mother had written us to tell us we were going
to be big sisters, that she was going to have a baby. In my pre-teen angst, I was pretty nasty to
my mom. Nan put me right in my place & told me what a miracle a new baby was
in the family. She LOVED babies &
after we were married, kept bugging me that we needed more babies in our
family! She was so happy when my children were born. Nothing made me smile bigger than seeing her
& Pop down on the floor playing with my kids!
Nan has been present at every milestone in my
life. I have pictures with her at my high school & college graduations, my
wedding, the birth of my children & all the baby showers/birthdays/family
gatherings. I have great pictures of her smiling & playing with my
children. I will cherish those memories forever and I cannot imagine future
milestones/gatherings without her. As some already know- the same day I got
this awful news, we put an offer in on a house that was accepted. I wish that
she were here to tell her all about it, and even though I know that she
probably wouldn't have been able to travel to see it in person, She would've
been so happy for us. She may have even
painted me a beautiful picture to hang on the wall. Thankfully, I have other
paintings she did just for me- a purple rhododendron because purple is my
favorite color & another of a field of daffodils (also my favorite) with a
little mouse hidden in the corner (she & pop called me A-mouseky when I was
little). I plan to display those where I
can see them & think of her every day.
I know that
she wouldn't want us to all be sad today, so I encourage each of you to share a
funny lil story or memory of her. She
was SO very special and a one-of-a-kind, but we
all already know that.
