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LIFE: Processing the Unknown

In the 90's, television and books portrayed the family with 2.5 children and a house with a two car garage where dad worked outside of the home and mom had dinner ready in the evenings. The show would continue with grandma and grandpa popping in for a visit or a trip to their house. 

My 90's family did not have this imagery- and that's okay. I grew up with divorced parents, and the parents I lived with full time both were from countries other than the US- meaning aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents all still lived in their respective native land. This meant that I did not necessarily have the same visitation schedule as families who all live in the same city, state, or country. 

I know from pictures that the first time that my Nana ( my dads mom) Sheila, from England, came to visit was the spring after I was born. I have pictures of myself in a stroller with my Nana below the Tower of Americas. The next time I would get the opportunity to be with my grandmother was around four years old when I traveled to England for my uncles wedding. After these two visits, I have a hand full of visits from her to the US where: 

  • We hid from Nana that our diderm rat snake, Hissing Sid ( named after a British comedy sketch), had escaped his cage and was not able to be found. During tea time one afternoon the snake slithered between Nana's feet and she yelped for help. 
  • She visited around my 18th birthday and was able to see me perform as the mascot at a high school Football game. She also hosted my friend for a garden tea party and taught us the recipes. 
  • She surprised me for my 21st birthday, arriving on the day that I was running my very first 5k, and wanted to eat dinner at the restaurant that we hosted our wedding reception at earlier in the year. 
Sadly, these are the very few memories I have with my Nana. Beyond the time when I was four years old, I did not get a chance to visit her at her home. Nana did not get the opportunity to meet her two stateside great grandchildren, nor will she be able to meet her new grandchild due this fall from my cousin-- I do know that she valued the images she saw of the two boys growing.  Sadly, I will not get the opportunity to ask my nana about her side of the family, or her favorite memories of my dad. 

I did not know Sheila, and Sheila did not know me but that does not mean that there was a moment of love lost "across the pond". 

You can not get today back. If there is someone you want to know more about, make the attempt now. Ask the questions that have been left unknown before its too late. Do not leave things unknown. 

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