A Day to Remember.

Today is my grandmothers birthday, "Big Nana" as she was called by me as "Baby Nana" my much smaller Great Grandmother lived upstairs in the same house when I was little. This is a picture of possibly all the women in the family were together in celebration. A couple of us weren't even women yet as you can see. I believe this was either Mothers Day or St Patricks Day... All holidays meant a huge dinner at the table together, (Corned beef and cabbage for the Irish in us and all hell broke loose if there was no turnips at Christmas) Liz, Mom and Duffy with their constant jokes and digs at each other and Nana sitting at the head of the table, being the matriarch of the family which has now been passed on to my Mother and then finally Manford earned his place at the other end, which he deserved. He was the first man we didn't kill, and have not yet, so hopefully that curse is over because I have no intention of starting it up again with the wonderful man I love.
So this picture was taken after we knew she was sick, we knew this was the last holiday and this picture was taken with everyone in full realization of what was to come. Notice my Great Aunt Betty, she hated her picture taken, and saw no reason to celebrate at that moment. She showed it in typical Snapperhead style, but I don't blame her.

My Great Grandmother was a lady from a time that no longer exists. I only wish she could have met my children and influenced my daughter.

My Grandmother lived life facing incredible strife for a long time and was opinionated, eccentric, and I loved her more than I could have ever told her. While she was dying I knitted a blanket for her, I was learning and I had to work on it while she was laying under it and she would hold onto it and smile at me. It never was finished and is now in a cedar chest at moms. Maybe I will finish it someday.

Aunt Betty could be very difficult, but I still loved and protected her especially when she was the only one left. I took her to the store endless times, and even dusted her lightbulbs like she wanted much to my dismay. I remember the day talking on the phone telling her she had better be around for a long time because I still need to know things from her. I always called with cooking questions ect.... She told me cryptically that I better get ready and wouldn't explain herself. I didn't know, but she already knew she was sick. I was with her to the very end, as with the others. Mom and I are good at it now, no one will ever die in a hospital in my family if I can help it.

So here is the thing. Today, my Grandmothers birthday , I opened the front door and a dragonfly lay dead on my doorstep sitting upright facing North. An Omen. I think brought to me from Nana. A Dragonfly is a bearer of News. One facing North means the Great Mother, the Great Nurtuter, is aware of my current dilemmas and help is on the way. There is no better way to open the door than to find good news awaits you. Happy Birthday Nana, I love you, and I miss our combined Birthday parties together. Remember the year I turned 16 and you turned 61? It was the best birthday party ever.