1909-1998

Nana was eighteen when she met Grandpa. Grandpa was thirty-two. Immediately smitten, he proposed. Nana accepted the ring, but wore it on her right hand. They were *not* engaged. She was too young.

Nana liked to dance. So, for the next ten years, she worked as a telephone operator during the day and went dancing at night. Grandpa was okay with that. He allowed time for the love of his life to get her youth out of the way while she was young. Townspeople thought she was crazy. Grandpa was a good looking man! Such a bold woman – to go about her business while an eligible bachelor waited for her to come to her senses.

Like I said, Grandpa was okay with that.

When Nana turned twenty-eight, she figured it was a good time to get married. And so they did.

She proudly walked down the aisle…in a blue-velvet wedding gown.

Townspeople thought she was crazy.

Grandpa was okay with that.

They had six children and nine grandchildren. Grandpa died in 1975. Nana never remarried.

Nine years ago yesterday, we lost her. And the world hasn’t been the same since.