NANA

NANA

We always called my maternal grandmother Nana. It was by her choice. Her real name was Ann. She was a typical grandmother - very typical. Almost every grandmother cliche fit her.

In her later years, she was hilarious when she was trying to remember the name of a grandchild or great grandchild. She would have to run through a whole litany of names before she hit the right one. Even when she was talking to you, she seldom got your name right the first time.

She was very fastidious about her appearance. To the day she died at 92 years, she was never seen without make-up, jewelry and her blue hair nicely curled.

She and her husband lived in the apartment above ours in our 1920's St.Louis style home. She was a devious conniver and loved to play my mother and her sister against each other. As a result, the sisters were not close for many years until she died.

Nana actually had three daughters. The third was named Patricia and died as an infant. My mother and her sister, Joyce, were very upset by the loss. Each of them named their first born after this child.