Today is a very sad day for my family; Nan passed away in her sleep about 10:30am, she would have been 98 in January. She was my maternal grandmother and she was the matriarch of the family, always keeping everyone in line and connected. A very direct, outspoken, and bold woman; she ruled with a heavy hand, and was simultaneously the nicest, sweetest, and most caring person you could ever meet. Nan had a way of taking in people and making them feel like family no matter where they came from. She was also very stubborn and set in her ways. She had no qualms about telling you that any given situation would be “her way, or the highway,” and she meant it! I have fond memories of my grandmother, but the majority of them are from when I was younger, particularly when she still owned her cleaning business. This is due to my being far away for the last 20 years, having gone to college out-of-state and then moving even further away to finish college and begin my life and family. I called her when I could though, and even though she was always quick to get off the phone, as she didn’t want to take up too much of my time (no matter how much I tried to tell her she wasn’t), I always made sure she knew that I was thinking of her and that I loved her. I wish I could have spent more time with her these last 20 years. She had great stories and I am certain there are many that I never got the opportunity to hear. She will be dearly missed, but after 28 years she will finally be reunited with my grandfather.

Good-bye Nan, I love you, I’ll miss you.