These girls, from start to finish, were just a big blast! You'll see our friend, Lynn, on the far left. It appears as if she's giving a sip of her frosty beverage to a cardboard photo. The photo is Lindsay. Lindsay couldn't be with us, but we wanted her in all of our photos, hence...CARDBOARD LINDSAY. Again, long story there. A very long story with many inside jokes. Therefore...in order to protect the innocent - I will refrain. Let's just say there are CERTAIN fans of Kenny that actually believe having a CARDBOARD CUTOUT of Kenny means they actually HAVE KENNY IN THEIR LIVES.
As in let-me-dress-up-in-a-wedding-gown-and-have-a-mock-up-wedding-of-me-and-cardboard-Kenny.
Anyone seen my Haldol?
You see, again, like I've mentioned in previous posts...watch reality TV or go to some country music shows...see and meet some of these whack-a-doos, and you're bound to find that you and your crazy/altered version of life?
Yeah, perfectly sane.
As always, let me add in the blanket disclaimer:
BLESS HER HEART......................
Moving on....
The highlight of my trip to Ohio, despite popular opinion, wasn't seeing Kenny Chesney - or my FC girls (love 'em both...love 'em up!). The highlight was spending an entire weekend with my 84-year-old Nana, Constance Eileen Robinson. Isn't she just beautiful?
For me, being a 33-year-old woman, spending this priceless time with the matriarch of my mother's family, struck a more powerful chord than ever before. Nana isn't the same as she used to be. She's frail, she's weak, and it's hard for her to get around. She requires constant care, and....I have to say, there is a special place in heaven for my Aunt Patsy, who provides this care to my Nana on a 24-hour-a-day/7-day-a-week basis. I can't even begin to wrap my brain around how much this requires, or how she feels about this every single day. She has a true servant's heart and I just have so much gratitude in my heart for her now. More now than ever before.
I also embraced and appreciated the fact that I am part of a family of very strong, resilient women. Here's a shot of the Berger women (my Nana's maiden name is Berger). That's Aunt P, Nana, my cousin Brigitte (Aunt P's daughter), me and Mom. My aunt and cousin, as well as Nana and Mom, have come through times of struggle and sacrifice, most often, for the love of their children. All on different levels - some of them physical pain and loss, some of them emotional pain and loss. Some of them both. Through it all, they've maintained such grace. And I'm so fortunate and blessed to be a part of them.
We had such a wonderful weekend. We sent Aunt P to the spa for an entire day; she had a full body massage, had her hair done, a mani/pedi and makeup. She had an absolutely fantastic & relaxing day, which was very much deserved!! She was sent to the spa courtesy of Mom. Aunt P was so thankful and so surprised, she just didn't know how to react. Well, a day at the spa pales in comparison to what she does for Nana every day.
While Aunt P was at the spa, Nana got a manicure. When her mani was done, Mom asked me to sit down next to Nana and hold her hands under the nail dryer. As I spent time looking down at my Nana's hands, I couldn't help but reflect on the 33 years I've had with those hands - how they wiped tears away when I was sad, put a band-aid on a skinned knee, served me vegetable soup and angel food cake, and how they wrapped around me in a big hug as I got out of the car at the airport on Monday, when we said goodbye.
On the way to the airport on Monday, we were in the backseat; Nana and I talked about her wedding to my Grandfather - he was in the Navy at the time and they were about to move to Norfolk, VA. Ironically, when I left Ohio, that is where I was heading. Aunt P couldn't remember where they were actually married, if it was Norfolk or Indianapolis....so when I turned to Nana to ask her, she said, "Well, of course we got married in Indiana! It's home!"
Yup. That sums it up perfectly:
Nana's hands and Indiana. Always home.