Nana

Way before Martha Stewart, Pinterest and Etsy, there was my grandmother.  Crafting even before the term crafting was coined,  she could do ANYTHING.  Famous for her Christmas Tree skirts and knitted afghans, she made one of each for all of her children (3) and grandchildren (9.)  Then there were the countless items of clothing she "spruced up" with paint, or studs, sparkles and leather of which both she and my grandfather proudly adorned.  She didn't need no stinkin' Bedazzler!  Handmade gifts in handmade boxes that held cereal and crackers in a past life.  Christmas ornaments made out of cards and photos (of which still hold a place of honor on my tree year after year),  doll clothes, people clothes, photo albums meticulously labelled and prettied up with decorative frames she would cut out of cardboard or paper, keeping her hands always busy.  She would take coffee cans, vitamin jars and old film containers, cover them with contact paper and VOILA! a pencil holder, paperclip storage, and jewelry safe keepers.  She was magic.
And the cakes...truly saving the best for last, not only were they delicious, exactly whatever was your favorite at the time, but decorated so beautifully and sometimes so complicated, that you almost couldn't bear to cut into them.  But Grampa, having been there throughout the entire cake making process and who loved Nana's cakes more than all of us combined, could always be counted on to wield the knife and become the executioner.  And to make sure that there was not a morsel of guilt hanging around the table, he would say "she can make another one tomorrow" as if she just twinkled her nose and POOF, there appeared perfection.  I guess in a way that's how we all looked at it.  This was our norm.  Nana was Nana, she could whip up whatever, whenever, didn't all grandmothers do that?
When I was young, I often thought it very strange that I had none of her characteristics.  She had these amazing green eyes that were so clear, sparkly and true.  True green eyes that hid nothing.  As a girl and young lady, she had this to-die-for luscious auburn hair and dimples that didn't need a smile to shine.  She was also built perfectly for hugs.  When she put her arms around me, I could feel myself let go; of sadness, fear, anger, uncertainty and know in an instant that possibly everything would be alright.  I believe that there was and never will be a safer place on earth.

We said "see ya later" to her in August of last year. It is my biggest heartbreak.

I now realize though, brown eyed and all, I am undeniably my grandmother's, granddaughter.  She handed down her gift of passion and love for creativity. She is there in every one of my projects.  I may not have gotten the dimples, but I got the BEST part of her

Happy Birthday Nana