Nana's hands

People have told me I have my Nana's hands and upon hearing this I am flattered because my Nana has long slender fingers and is the personification of elegance, right down to her fingertips. I even chose my engagement ring to be one similar to her own, hoping my ring would look as beautiful on my fingers as hers did on her. Nana is 92 and we were just told yesterday that she has cancer and that her time left with us will be short. It's hard to think of a world without her in it, without the grace and elegance she brings to every family gathering.

I have a family photo of Nana and Poppa when they were my age, I look at it often.

Apparently the story behind it is that Nana had organised a photographer to take photos of her two girls, my Aunt and mother, so had them dressed in their best whites. Poppa came home at Lunch time and the photographer shot this photo of the four of them. I love seeing Poppa, his sleeves rolled up, a real man's man yet indulging his beautiful modern wife who he adored by getting in the photo.  She was a sophisticated nurse from Melbourne, he was a hard working engineer from Huntly. I know the photo doesn't tell the whole story but I look at this photo and can't imagine Nana knee deep in nappies, stressed out with the role of caring for toddlers, making dinners and keeping house like I feel most days. She had four children so I know, I do know that she must have had those days where you are just willing it to be bedtime by 10am. But when I look at this photo I see calm, grace, elegance and I'm guessing even a gin and tonic waiting on the porch.

It was Nana that taught me to knit which is ironic because she isn't a crafter but more likely to pay someone to knit something, she has impeccable taste and has always been generous with her gifts to us grandchildren. Always the first to order flowers to the hospital, a card and a cheque on a birthday and a phone call to congratulate or wish luck. There are a lot of us now to keep track of with 11 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren but she knows us all and treats us all with the same respect and love.

The last time I saw her she made my day by telling me that she was a baby butt shuffler too and told me about her little leather shoe all scuffed on the side from her dragging it as she shuffled.With all my concerns over Nathan not crawling and getting that cross over movement that everyone says is so important; that little comment gave me hope that all will be well.

I got her hands, he got her shuffle.