Nana and Me
“Do you have any gum, Nana?” The pew was hard, the sermon dull, my right foot dead asleep.
Digging in her pocketbook, Nana pulled out sticks of Spearmint gum to occupy my sister and me for a few moments. I tried not to smack.
“Draw.A.Duck.” I mouthed the words silently and handed her an offering envelope from the pew in front of me. Offering envelopes were stored beside the hymnals and made good scrap paper in a pinch.
With one sweep of a pencil, Nana had this silly way of drawing a duck. Her signature artwork looked more swan or turkey-like than duck-like, which amplified the funny factor ten-fold during preaching, or during any serious occasion when laughing was frowned upon.
“That doesn’t look like a duck, Nana,” my sister murmured, trying to stifle her laugh which sent us, Nana included, head first into a fit of silent giggles, shoulder-shaking giggles, the sort often mistaken for sobbing—as though we could be wholly moved by Brother Brown’s boring message…
From the piano bench, Momma shot us the stink-eye, but she wanted to laugh too. Nana had that effect on everyone.
talya
Grace Grits and Gardening
Musical Pairing:
(When she wasn’t laughing or talking, Nana was whistling this song…)
Blessed Assurance, Alan Jackson
A to Z April Blog Challenge. N is for Nana❤
Memories! I’m glad you have such great one’s of your Nana. She was a stunner for sure and the genes have passed down the line, as I see! Giggling in Church was a regular pastime with me – my brother would go out of his way to make me giggle! 😉
Thank you Corinne! Yes church giggling was the best.
Very sweet post- and I love those ducks!
Thanks Megan. The picture is framed at home in Arkansas:))
You’re so good at taking a memory and describing it like a photo for us. Love your memory of your Nana and the duck.
Cattitude and Gratitude
Thank you!
This is an awesome glimpse in how wiggly and bored kids really are at church! LOL Love the pictures.
Kathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com
I am playing catch up reading today. What a lovely story about your nana! My nana’s are gone too but your nana sounds so much like mine. Mine always had a pocketbook full of little treats for us in church and she often got us in trouble when she dozed off and let out a snore! Def enjoyed reading your posting today!
Thank you for reading/commenting. My Nana never fell asleep in church. That would have pushed us over the edge for sure. I’m pretty sure her brother, my uncle, did though. He could fall asleep at the drop of a hat.
Loved your Nana story. Mine was great too, and such a big part of my life. What a beautiful story, thanks for sharing.
She sounds so lovely!
A month of Blog…
A lovely story and photos I hope I can give my granddaughter such great memories.
Is Anyone There
Me too…someday…
Your Nana sounds wonderful. I wish that my children could experience a Nana like that, but unfortunately all of their grandparents have passed away.
TaMara
Tales of a Pee Dee Mama
My mom used to have a silly drawing that we always wanted her to draw too. I never knew grandparents. 🙁
http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/2013/04/atoz-ww-n-for-naughty-pictures.html
Oh Talya, so bloody sweet!
How lovely that you have your Nana’s drawings xxx
Sarah
Awesome blog and cool pic! Thanks for sharing.
Oh, so familiar, except my mother had little peppermints.
This was a wonderful post!
Donna
What a beautiful couple. Thanks for sharing some memories. Love the song.
Grandmothers are wonderful people. One of mine always made me laugh, even when she was teaching us. The other, although more serious, always shared her love with us, and taught me so much.
What a fun story to share.
Thank Heaven for Nana! I had one, my mother was one, and I am one. Their grit,grace,and giggles provide inspiration in how to be a Nana. My Nana taught me to memorize Scripture, kept me entertained in church with the fox-mouth clasp to her stole (gross!), and let me wear her long gloves! She never said a mean word about anyone. If only I…
🙂 Someday I hope to be one too! Your nana sounds like mine…
Awesome, Talya! Your Nana was one Super Awesome lady, to say the least. I really like this story, and it reminds me of the those many awkward, but hilarious, times in church when I did all I could to keep from bursting out in laughter. Most of those times occurred when I was a kid, but I do remember one or two times when I was a Dad.=) Also, I really like your Nana’s ducks. They have sort of an Egyptian art style about ’em.=) So, be sure and tell your little sister that O S M R ducks, too! C M Wangs!…haha
Loved this. Made me cry. Nana was a “hoot”.