It was 4 years ago today that we lost Nana. On this day every year my blog turns pink, in honor of Nana; pink was her favorite color. My Mom, brother, and I spent a lot of years living with Nana and Alan, and their house was my last connection to any kind of childhood home. When it was sold several years ago, I didn’t realize at the time how much of an impact that would have on me. I still have many dreams that take place in Nana’s house. The house and Nana and Alan will always be alive and well in my memories.
As I started my memorial post to Nana two years ago today, she once said, “I see only the good in every person.” I’ve always said that a big part of who I am comes as much from Nana as from my parents, and with each passing year, I really understand just how true that is. That concept — seeing only the good in all people — really resonates more and more with me every day that I live my life. It’s about hope. It’s about believing in people. It’s about helping people feel good about themselves and what they’re capable of. These are all things that Nana lived for, and things I try to live for, too. We all want to help people. I believe that there’s good in every person, and I can only hope that I’m making even a fraction of the impact on the world that Nana made during her amazing life.
One of the things that sucks the most about losing a loved one is that the loved one doesn’t get to see how you’ve lived your life and how things have turned out. Nana never met Happy Dingo; she didn’t get to attend mine and Jen’s wedding (though she was there in spirit); she didn’t get a chance to see our new house and our lives together here in Saratoga Springs.
But I know she’d be proud of all this — proud of me and Jen and the lives we’ve built for ourselves, and the good we try to do in the world every day.
We miss you and love you, Nana.
