My Facebook belies the fact that I am not the good old fashioned, worship her grandkids kind of Nana. once upon a time a conversation occurred where extended family were bemoaning the fact I had never had a ‘regular’ grandmother. It’s very true, I adored all three of my grandmas but they were each unusual in their own ways. From each I learned very different things. Terry, my step-mother’s step- mother and I were very close through my teens and early adulthood especially. She taught me to draw, to cook gnocchi, to craft and appreciate shiny things but after my grandad died we lost touch. My Grandma Kuz, my birth mother’s mother was the polar opposite. She was a God-fearing woman who had suffered much loss, lived very simply and was hyper critical of me in a way I believe she thought was love and constructive. Then there was my Nana. Juanita was a powerhouse personality. A bright light in our worlds. Bright red lipstick, dangling earrings, a beehive, and a wardrobe similar to Queen Elizabeth, including matching bag and pumps. She fiercely loved us. She raised me for the two years after my mom died. She was my world, most of my childhood memories revolve around her and my Grandad. I want to love my grands the way she loved me and I do but I’m not always convinced they feel it the way I did. I think of her especially when I see gladiolas and sweet peas, her go to centerpieces always held in pinwheel crystal.
Emmy spent the better part of 24 hours with me and I worked hard to not be distracted, to play with her and not say No. we had fun. She really is an intelligent, observant child. At one point she was cuddled up beside me on the couch, raised my arm to look at my pit and said ‘you are a very good shaver, Nana.’ She was concerned that I don’t have a married ring. She thanked me for our big adventure when I dropped her off. In the night when she awoke thirsty I brought her into bed with me and she settled herself right up close, at first complaining she didn’t have a pillow but she was so centered she was between them. This left me chuckling when in the morning she mentioned I was on her side, even though she was still dead centre.
We made a wee video to send to Zoë for her 8th birthday. Wish I could have celebrated with her but lucky dogs, the Campbell’s were celebrating on Vancouver Island!
We played outside before the sun got too hot and she enjoyed being pushed around in the tractor, nearly big enough to peddle it. She and Chewbacca put on a circus for me in the tent trailer. She entertained me while I weeded and then we painted her finger and toe nails Nana Red. After that we went to the car wash and sent a video to a Jake as he and I always went through the car wash together with the tines cranked. He sent a video message back and we enjoyed hearing it through my car speakers. It was the biggest waste of $16, could barely tell we went through. Feel like the dirt just got sealed on. A DQ picnic And play time and then it was time to drop her off. I enjoyed this visit so much more than last time when she was willfully disobedient.
I really managed to get a lot of yard work done this long weekend even with all the time the pool scrubbing took up. I will have to arrange to get my yard waste to the transfer station at some point. It felt good to be outside! I colored my hair and relaxed for the evening watching Dead To Me on Netflix. Stellar cast. Interesting premise. Good entertainment.
Weeds be gone! 
triumphgal 