Thursday, February 5, 2009

Nana's Smile

I just returned from a great road trip with Mama and Paula.  They flew here from the Great State and we all drove the 13 hours out to New Bern to visit with Eric and Kelly, and then on to Virginia to visit my Uncle Ray, Aunt Ginny, 1st cousins once-removed Sean and Jackie and their darling daughter, Taylor.  I guess officially she's a 1st cousin twice removed.  We just call everyone "cousins" and she just calls everyone "aunts".  It's easier that way.  The child has more "aunts" and "uncles" than one could ever hope for, and she's blessed with lots of Papas, too:  her actual Papa, her Grand-papas, and her Great-grand-papas.  What we all miss for Taylor, though, are her Nanas.  
I only knew one of Taylor's Nanas, and I knew her from babyhood . . . my beautiful cousin, Cindy.  Cindy went home to her Heavenly Father one year ago after a long battle with ovarian cancer.  We all miss Cindy terribly, but there is one special thing that Cindy left behind, and that's her smile.  I found it in Taylor, and it's alive and sparkling as ever.  

4 comments:

Concerned Conservative said...

I agree - I saw a lot of Nana in Taylor. Because of her coloring and black eyes, she looks like her beautiful mom, but seeing her in action you see the eyes, nose and mouth of Nana. She is a beautiful composite of beautiful people. Even if she hadn't shown us a glimpse of Cindy, she would have been a lovely charmer in her own right.

Anonymous said...

I agree. There is definitely more than a hint of Cindy in Taylor. I wonder if Jackie's family sees their loved one, Jackie's mother, in her too? And we do all see Jackie in Taylor,. I wish I could have been there to visit with them.

Linda said...

Yes, I wish I could have known Taylor's other Nana. Because we see so much of Jackie in Taylor, I know we must be seeing her Mom, too. And charmer Taylor is indeed!

Anonymous said...

A couple of the pictures of Taylor that Jackie posted on facebook sure do have a Cindy look to them. She is a beautiful little girl no matter which of her Nanas' she looks like. Thanks for the post Linda, I'm so glad you got to spend time with the VA Torres branch.