Dear Nana,
I am writing you this letter and posting it on the WWW for the world to see as my way of, not saying good bye, but rather to let the World say HELLO and understand what has passed them by if they did not have the honor of knowing you.
At night I lay in bed and I talk to you, but I'm sure you know this, and I ask things like why did you have to Leave?
Why aren't you here with me now? Why aren't you here for your Great Grand kids to know and to teach them all those things I thought were silly when I was little?
Then I hear a voice from within that says, " Think back on life and what do you remember?"
All at once as I wipe the tears from my sleepy eyes I Remember.....
Those Long walks around Leisure World in the evenings when it was just me and my Nana. We would talk about things i didn't understand at times and at other times they were as clear as the day. The stories you would tell me about what it was like when you were my age, which at the time, I was sure you never could have been my age:) We would walk to the creek and you would watch me roll down those great big Grassy hills and just look with amazement when I would tumble to the bottom, get up and run to the top again and do it all again. When we saw all the rabbits in the early evening I would want to chase them so bad it hurt and sometimes you would give me this look that said "if you chase those rabbits I am going to scold you and let you know you did wrong", and other times you would look at me and I got a look that said "go get um Charley", and yet I wouldn't do it because I knew you didn't want me to scare them half to death. Then sometimes while we were walking we would sing out loud, songs like Sister Susie or any silly song just to sing because you loved to sing and I loved to sing with you. I truly believe that my love of such a vast amounts of different music comes from you through mom. I wish you could hear me sing now. I think you would be proud that when I sing I sing from my heart and soul, I sing for the joy it brings me and every now and then the joy it brings others.
I also think of the many trips we took together. How it would take us a week to get to uncle Herb's, even though it was only 1000 miles away, We would be driving along and stop every few hours and see a new sight, or enjoy the view from a roadside over look, or just decide that we had driven far enough on that day and look for a hotel with a nice swimming pool and a Denny's near by. We always stopped early enough to relax and play in the pool and have lots of time to sight see wherever we might be.
I remember what a strange sense of humor I thought you had at times, but strange or not, I thought you were great and one of the funniest people I could ever know in my life.
I think of the times when we would just sit and talk. Sometimes you made me feel like an adult with some of the things we talked about. We could talk about anything from what was going on in the world and if I didn't understand it you could almost always explain it to me in a way I could understand. We could talk about cartoons, or a TV show, Life, the day, or anything. You always made me feel important and I always learned something new weather I knew it or not.
I think of the funny faces we would make to try and make the other laugh, or tell jokes or funny stories.
I think of the look on your face the first time I saw you with my kids, Oh how they love you. They loved you then, they love you now, and will love you forever, just like me.
I think about how much of a connection you and Yasmin had and will always have. I just wish she could have only had the chance to do some of those things we did together. She is so much like you, such a free spirit and adventurer.
I think about how much Richie is going to miss out on your knowledge, he is so much like your intellectual side. He sits and reads about things he wants to know about. He asks questions when he isn't sure about something, he makes things up if he cant get the real answer, and always has a joke or a funny story to tell, just like you. God the things he could learn from you.
I think about how much mom must miss you. Even though you didn't always see eye to eye at times, I think you two have such a bond that nothing could ever split you apart, not even the end of the world. I know she thinks of you everyday as do I and anyone that has known you, Loved you, or been near you.
I think about what the WORLD has lost on the day you slipped away into your eternal slumber.
Then I remember something you once said to me, that as long as I remember those who are gone, and I tell those that I love, Nothing is lost, because a memory is as precious as life itself.
Well NANA I have the fondest memories of you and us and I swear I will tell the world so that the World has not lost one of the greatest people in its history.
Someday I know we will be together again and take a road trip to some distant place and we can take eternity to get there as we enjoy the sights, check out the view from a roadside vantage point, make each other laugh, Sing a song, take a walk, and always stop with enough time to relax and play in the pool.
With all my HEART AND SOUL, and all that I am, may you rest in peace and know that....................
I LOVE YOU NANA
Your Grandson and Biggest fan,
Charley
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Eloise L. Porter |
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