For anyone who doesn't know, the woman pictured above is my Nanna. The girl squealing in her lap is me, probably 15 years ago maybe.
I was 16 when she passed away. Up until that point, I figured she was invincible. People say that about their parents- which I don't doubt mine are- but I always had that thought about her too. My Nanna was just always there. And then she wasn't. I had a hard, hard time dealing with her passing. Milestone events came and passed and I knew she wouldn't be there, but I looked anyway. I remember looking for both her and my husband (who was in basic at the time) in the crowd, knowing that no miracle could bring her to me that day.
But dwelling on all of this isn't what she would have wanted. My Nanna was a fun, generous and all around amazing human being. She had a way of lighting up a room and bringing you in with her. That smile on her face, the way she smiled around me and my brother, was so genuine and beautiful. I know for a fact she would have smiled just like at my graduations, wedding, and news of her first great granddaughter.
Serafina is blessed, so blessed. She isn't here and already has grandparents AND great grandparents who love her. Each one of these special people in her life will be just as amazing to her as my Nanna was to me. Maybe that's a gift from my Nanna- blessing my daughter with all this love, having all these amazing people in her life who will help shape her into a good person. I know as I become a mom, she will be right by my side, in all the memories we shared together. I was blessed to have her in my life as long as I did, but even more blessed to take away the things I learned with her. Love you always.
