Hold me close

We called her Nannie.

I'm sure that we have all wished we knew someone better after it was too late. Well, I recently have been feeling this towards my grandmother Nannie. Now of course I knew her, but I mean I wish I really knew her so that I could have better understood her.

You see, if any of you have actually met my grandmother, you could tell that she had a story. In fact she had many and she was always more than willing to tell anyone around her who was willing to listen. She loved people, the weirder, the better haha. Nannie was always interested in the theature...maybe that is where I got it from? She came to all of my Rock-N-Roll Revival Shows, except for one which was due to a terrible snow storm in Baltimore. Nannie always told me how I had to have taken after her to be so comfortable on stage. It's nice to know that I will always have that part of Nannie with me.

This Christmas was like every other Christmas in the Robins' household. We went up to Baltimore to visit my Mom's mom for lunch and then my Mom's dad for dinner. As usual I decorated Nannies christmas tree with her other grandchildren. Nannie made sure to tell us the story behind each ornament as we put it on the tree, like i said, with Nannie there is always a story. Because there are always so many people there, it's hard to get one on one time with her. But this year she asked me to help her with presents because she was not able to do it herself. So into her computer room I went, and it was just us for a long time talking. Now I realize that God must have given me that time with Nannie, to be with her one on one.

The day after Christmas my dad's family came over, as well as Nannie and my Uncle Thomas. The first thing she did was to look at our Christmas tree, like usual. She loved seeing the ones that she would give us on our tree. She got along with my dad's family so well and they all loved her and got a kick out of her. Once again today I was given opportunity to talk to her one on one and hear more about her life. It was always funny to see what she got me for Christmas. My Uncle's liked to call it "Nannie crap" because it would always be something you wouldn't think you would get, or even existed. This year my mom and I got matching stockings with holly leaves all over them haha. I also got a basket weaving kit! Who knows maybe I'll actually try that. Without a doubt though, every year we got a disposable camera and chocolate coins. She passed the tradition of chocolate coins onto my mom too.

Sometimes the expected comes too soon. We all knew that Nannie was really sick but it still doenst seem real. I know that next Christmas it will really hit me. Please pray for my mom and her brothers because they have done so much for her over the years and I know this must be really hard on them. I don't even want to think about what it would be like to lose a parent, a grandmother is bad enough. But as I look back onto her last days, she really did have a great time. Nannie is the type of person that leaves an impression on the heart of everyone she meets. I like to think that she went out with a bang, and thats Nannie for you. I am thankful that I was able to have her for my grandmother.

January 8, 2006 Rest In Peace Anne Mulligan.