The Hand in the Window

Today is my Nana Mildred's Birthday, She lived a long life and passed at the age of 99 years old. Her Husband my Papa Sidney died a few weeks before my parents were married. My Mother's Parents passed away within a year of each other when I was about 5 and 6 years old. While I remember bits and pieces of my Mothers parents, I was very lucky to have my Nana Mildred for a good part of my life.

As a child my Nana reminded me a bit of Edith Bunker from the TV show "All in the Family" She was an only child growing up and would always marvel that from an only child grew such a big wonderful family. When we were very little, my brother and I would get in the car and ask "Where are we going?" and my parents would answer Nana's house. From that day on, We though her full name was "Nana House" and that became her name for many years. Once we grew up and she moved to an apartment, the name no longer fit and "Nana Apartment" wouldn't really work well.

We would often go to pick Nana up to either come to our house or to go out for dinner..The signal was that my Father would beep the horn and then we would see the hand in the window. That meant she was on her way out. She had never learned to drive and often told of remembering seeing the first cars and yelling at them to "Get a Horse".

I remember in forth or fifth grade in Oakhurst School We had a unit on the effects of smoking. Well, I became my Nana's worst enemy.. I hounded her , I stole her cigarettes and destroyed them, but in the end, I won..She gave up her habit (and I picked it up for over 25 years..sorry Nana).

She had a wonderful way about her and she would charmingly mispronounce many words...Lesbian became Lebanese, Acapulco became Alapulca. I was called either Ricky or Sidney or Asti (the family dog)...of course, my father did the same thing.

She was a charming, beautiful and amazing woman, I miss her and love her dearly.
She influenced me in too many ways to mention.
Happy Birthday Nana House!
Be Superb!
R