MY NANNY

On this day, May 3, in 1910, my maternal grandmother "Nanny" was born. When I was born 46 years later, she was living in East Los Angeles and my grandfather had since passed. 

My parents lived with her the first few years of my life (the first pic). Later, after my parents moved to their own home, a trip to "Nanny's house was always magical...especially at Christmastime when her house was filled with the smell of tamales. 

As the second eldest of many grandchildren, I got to know Nanny like few of the other grandchildren did. I was especially close to her. Not that I was her favorite. She was just that kind of a person. It was easy to feel close to her. 

Other than sitting at her table gorging myself at Christmastime with tamales, one of my other best memories of her was when she came to visit us at our house. She would park herself at the kitchen table, smoke cigarettes and sip her Hamm's beer. She didn't read the paper, watch TV, or do anything. 

She was just there and always available to anyone who wanted to sit with her and visit. She never talked about herself and never gave advice. She just listened and empathized and made you feel loved. 

She died in 1986 without a complaint and without notice. 

Requiem Aeternam Nanny.