My Strong Nana.

Every girl that I know has a woman in their life that they idolize. Usually that idol has some sort of big career, could be a celebrity, or maybe their mom. The strongest woman in my life is not a famous celebrity, she didn’t break any gender barriers, or start any kind of revolution. The strongest woman I know is my Nana. Her name is Ann, but insists we call her Nana instead of Grandma because it’s “irish”. I am not sure if that’s true, but like her, I value being Irish so I always call her that. She is my mom’s mom, and lives in Rockford, Illinois. There’s a specific image of my Nana that lives in my head. She was sitting on our couch, reading The Kennedy Curse. Of course that is in her character, an Irish-Catholic herself, she loves that American dynasty. Her face was solemn. I couldn’t stop thinking about how much pain she has experienced in her life. She lost her mom in college, then her dad. Her husband died, and her son. Now its just her and my mom. Their family of four dwindled so fast. I have seen her get emotional only a few times. I remember her saying “Parents shouldn’t have to see their children die, this isn’t right”. She lives alone, in her little ranch in Rockford. Rockford is a special place for her too. Although she has lived in Colorado and Chicago, she loves Rockford so much. Although that city has crumbled overtime, it's the one part of her life she can control. She can control where she lives, her routine, and staying in a place where her whole family once was. Although her love of routine can be frustrating, it is impossible to be upset with her. She is so hard working, and never thinks of herself. She selflessly taught third grade for over thirty years, and she still wakes up at 6:30 AM, as if she was still going to work. The thing I value most about my Nana is how strong she made my mom. Like my Nana lost her husband and son, mom lost her dad and brother. The two of them example true girl power (don’t know how else to describe it). I am very lucky to have both of them.