Memories of Eddie and Sarah ...

Sean says...

Memories of family are one of the things Stefan and I revel in as time marches on.  Many of you might have heard some of the many stories I tell about Papa Ed and Nanny, my mother's parents. Eddie and Sarah were there every Thanksgiving and Xmas for nearly 20 years it seems.  When we get together today, it is assured that Holly, Mikelle or I will ramble on about some heart warming story about these two incredible people. They were so full of unconditional love for us when they were alive.

Papa Ed and The Grandkids

You could always count on a stoic Walter Matthau-ish Papa Ed suddenly turning mischievous on a snowy day, wearing his green knit cap with the yellow border, breaking into a hysterical mock giggle with our dog Mackie not far behind.  Papa Ed tried so hard after a particularly rough life to be our alternate father figure.  It's weird to think about him because he wasn't the star of the show like Nanny was. He was the silent one in the background who was always watching over us like a bald eagle with a great love of exploring the beautiful property we had growing up.  He was always helping Dad split wood, shovel snow, or shepherd us kids around the neighborhood. As I remember it now he was so energetic about walking and hiking outside that we didn't always appreciate the little journies he would take us on. But he loved wandering in the backyard's woods with me in particular on snowy days. 

Toward the end of Papa Ed's life, he faded quite a bit from the mischievous prankster he was. I find it hard to remember some of his stories over the memories of his final years when the scourage of Alzeimer's made him into someone he wasn't. But for me those snowy days with he and Mackie are what I want to keep in the front of my mind forever.

Nanny & Sean

Nanny, on the other hand, was the star of the show. She was an unassuming woman but the woman was truly the emodiement of what a grandmother is. She was always cooking, sewing, cleaning, and telling us silly stories of her 12 brothers and sisters on the farm. She made our Halloween costumes when we were little. But Xmas was her moment in the sun every year. Papa Ed and she were married on Xmas so I can't blame her. I recently read a letter she wrote to her new mother-in-law back in 1941 talking about the simple ceremony and wedding dinner they had with 4 other people that emulated the essence of her, simplicity. 

Nanny was Sarah, Plain and Tall. She could cook up what seemed to be the best confections and holiday food you ever had. Mom still today says she can never replicate what Nanny did. But she was always there for us, listening to our goofy stories. Her favorite saying was always "Well it was somehting different anyway..." so as to not say a bad or unkind word about anything. She always smelled of hand cream though, and talked with a subtle Texas lilt. But what is memorable about her was that spontaneous feminine giggle. Her laugh exploded open like a quick-motion camera shot of a blooming flower. You found youself laughing with her every time. Her end was tragic only because she forgot her memories she loved to share with us in her arm chair next to the fire. Dementia laid waste to her storytelling but we will always remember her.

Sarah & Eddie

One day, my sister Mikelle taped a conversation with Nanny. We did this a lot as kids. Mikelle announced that she was Connie Chung interviewing the richest woman in the world. Nanny was falling into dementia at that time so she really didn't get the gist of what was being asked, but her response was pure her. When asked what made her so rich, she answered that the love of her daughter and grandchildren was what made her so wealthy and never made a comment about money in any of her comments. It is so simple and sweet it is truly unbeleiveable this comment isn't self serving. But thing is she really meant it. Mom listened to this tape for many years after she passed away... it captures who Sarah really was.

The ultimate memory I will have of Sarah and Eddie is picking them up at the airport. It was always a treat to watch them get off the plane and into our waiting arms every year. Thanks to terrorism, many kids won't have this memory unfortunately.  I wish I had a picture or film of that moment in time.  It meant fun and Xmas was coming!  And what kid doesn't like that!  Sometimes I think Thanksgiving and Xmas will never be the same without them... and then I realize new memories are being made. I just wish the newest member of our family, Zachary, could have met the two most generous and loving people ever to walk the earth.

I miss them every day and love them so much...