It was so late for a girl her size to be toddling along on Boone Avenue, across from the Spokane Arena. Then again, it was the Fourth of July, and the extravagant fireworks show over the river in downtown had only recently ended. About 50 minutes remained in the day marking the 238th birthday of the United States. Though seemingly only 3 or 4 years old, she showed no signs of fatigue.
Dressed in a denim skirt with white lace trim, a red and white shirt, and red bows in her shimmering blonde pigtails, the little one walked along a low wall, having no trouble with balance, but clearly understanding it was much more fun than walking on the boring old sidewalk. Her dad followed along, keeping an eye on her without encroaching on her space. My grandma was good like that, she always kept a respectable distance when I scrambled up the brick barrier surrounding the bank parking lot and walked the length of it towering a good two feet over her.
Nani, as everyone called her, not just her five grandkids, never owned a car and so we walked to the grocery store, the beach, the pharmacy or Filippi's Pizza, also JC Penney. The wall I loved to climb and walk atop was on the route to several spots, but most often I remember traversing it on our way to Winchell's Donuts. We would often go for my favorite treat - one chocolate sprinkle donut, one rainbow sprinkle donut - after several hours of playing catch on the front lawn of Nani's small duplex, challenging each other to the card game War, or reading yet again my favorite book, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.
If she were still here, Nani would be 100 years and 6 days old. She passed at the lovely age of 95. When my mom and I spoke by phone last Sunday, she remembered how she'd goof with Nani that we were already planning her 100th birthday because we were sure she'd live at least that long. Memories like the one last night conjured by a scene so reminiscent of my own childhood fill me with complete joy. Which is how I felt every moment I got to spend with my grandma.
Curious, I just now realized I never felt grumpy or sad or unhappy around Nani. Mostly, I felt calm. She had a way of keeping things simple. Like letting me use a brick wall for a balance beam, and not once fretting that I would hurt myself.
Dressed in a denim skirt with white lace trim, a red and white shirt, and red bows in her shimmering blonde pigtails, the little one walked along a low wall, having no trouble with balance, but clearly understanding it was much more fun than walking on the boring old sidewalk. Her dad followed along, keeping an eye on her without encroaching on her space. My grandma was good like that, she always kept a respectable distance when I scrambled up the brick barrier surrounding the bank parking lot and walked the length of it towering a good two feet over her.
Nani, as everyone called her, not just her five grandkids, never owned a car and so we walked to the grocery store, the beach, the pharmacy or Filippi's Pizza, also JC Penney. The wall I loved to climb and walk atop was on the route to several spots, but most often I remember traversing it on our way to Winchell's Donuts. We would often go for my favorite treat - one chocolate sprinkle donut, one rainbow sprinkle donut - after several hours of playing catch on the front lawn of Nani's small duplex, challenging each other to the card game War, or reading yet again my favorite book, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.If she were still here, Nani would be 100 years and 6 days old. She passed at the lovely age of 95. When my mom and I spoke by phone last Sunday, she remembered how she'd goof with Nani that we were already planning her 100th birthday because we were sure she'd live at least that long. Memories like the one last night conjured by a scene so reminiscent of my own childhood fill me with complete joy. Which is how I felt every moment I got to spend with my grandma.
Curious, I just now realized I never felt grumpy or sad or unhappy around Nani. Mostly, I felt calm. She had a way of keeping things simple. Like letting me use a brick wall for a balance beam, and not once fretting that I would hurt myself.
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