I Wear Red for My Nanny, Joan Hudson Daniels

 

My first loss to heart disease was my paternal grandmother, Joan Hudson Daniels. My brother and I called her “Nanny.” She was a single parent to her only child, which is my dad. She loved the three of us more than anything. During the time I knew her, she worked as a seamstress. She lived across the road from us with her mother. We called her, Gaugy. Since we lived so close, we spent a lot of time with them. We stayed there during the summers and after school, and whenever we wanted to go visit and spend the night.

Some of the things I remember most about my childhood there are watching cartoons, shelling peas, playing dominos, eating the most delicious caramel cake (and other kinds) ever baked, riding bikes, playing with Hot Wheels and paper dolls, going to cemeteries, watching Saved By the Bell, The Brady Bunch, and CMT, going in for a huge lunch spread when Scotch’s whistle blew and Daddy came home, and much more. It was a wonderful life, and the only thing I would do differently is take Nanny and Gaugy to the Fountain of Youth.

During my 5^th grade year, Gaugy got cancer and moved to Grove Hill to live with my great aunt. She died there a few months later right after Christmas. By this time, Nanny had bought a house two doors down from us in the other direction. Although we missed Gaugy very much, Jared and I had fun exploring this new house and yard. Nanny also got a Sheltie dog named Daisy. She was a sweet dog. By this time, we were getting older and didn’t play as much, but we still spent a lot of time at Nanny’s. She cooked a delicious lunch every Sunday. She loved all holidays.

Nanny made the most beautiful Easter eggs I have ever seen. They had the deepest colors. I wish I had learned how she did it. We always had egg hunts. She bought Jared and me fancy wooden Easter baskets when we were kids. Mine has a rabbit and his has a duck. I still have them, and they are all the more special now that he is in Heaven with her.

Christmas was her time to shine, though. Nanny and Gaugy were excellent cooks. Nanny made the best fudge, divinity, and chocolate pie I have ever eaten. She had a million lights on her medium-sized Christmas tree. We celebrated Christmas Eve at her house every year after Gaugy died, and she spoiled us all. During the holidays of 1999, she had our gifts wrapped and placed under the tree. Her Christmas goodies, including the fudge and divinity, which lived up to its name, were in the kitchen.

December 18^th was a Saturday that year. I spent most of the day at a friend’s house a few miles away. I was a senior in high school. I got home, and only my mom was there, which was unusual. She said that my dad and Jared had taken Nanny to the hospital because they thought she was having a heart attack. I understood the seriousness of the matter, but it never occurred to me that we might be coming home without her. I got to the hospital and Daddy and Jared were there. I don’t remember all the details, but I caught a glimpse of her by mistake. She looked to be sleeping, but was purple. Daddy said that she was gone. When they arrived, the staff got her situated, and he and Jared were going to complete the paperwork. She gasped and they saw her take her last breath. I think he said they worked on her for an hour.

I drove my car to the hospital, but I rode home in Nanny’s car with Jared and Daddy. Her purse was there. Nanny had a lot of good friends. We had cell phones at this time, but they were not used as they are now. I got to her house and called her best friends to tell them. I remember not believing what I was saying. We went back to my house, and people were there for days. I would pick up the phone to call her and catch myself almost walking to her house. She was a huge part of our lives, and she was gone in an instant.

She died exactly one week before Christmas. On Christmas Eve, we went to her house as usual. It was very sad. We opened our gifts from her and ate the goodies she had prepared. The next morning, her sister made us a breakfast dish. Her other sister gave us a poem called “My First Christmas In Heaven.” Those are the main things I remember about that Christmas.

 I know it was especially hard on my dad, but he handled it like a champ. The second semester of senior year flies by. Mine did, and it kept me busy, but it was sad that she wasn’t there for softball, prom, and graduation. For my softball tournaments, she would fry chicken and make other really good food for us to take. Looking back, I wish I had appreciated that more.

She was “extra,” and people tell me that I am the same way. If she were still here, I know that she would be my best friend. She would be my #1 supporter in my extra curriculars. If I ever needed someone to do something with, I know it would be her. She would love my husband, Jason, and I know they would embarrass me by laughing at inappropriate things and thinking it was funny that I was embarrassed, lol.

Nanny was very active and not overweight, but she didn’t exercise or eat right. She also smoked a lot and used ladles of grease to season her food. It was sooo good, though. I was a kid during the time I knew her, so I really don’t know if she went to the doctor regularly and kept a check on her numbers. I do know, however, that her diet, smoking, and lack of exercise contributed to her heart attack.

Nanny when she danced competitively 

I don’t have children or grandchildren like she did, but I have family, friends, animals, and former students that I love very much. There are things I want to do and people and animals I want to help before I am gone. God may have plans for a truck to hit me tomorrow, but at least I will have a healthy heart, and I will have done all I can to have taken care of my body so I can use it for myself and for others.  

Times were different when my grandmother was coming up. More people smoked and less was known about the dangers of it. More people cooked with grease, too. If she had it to do over again, I am confident that she would choose to be heart healthy, not for herself, but for us. Since she is not here to do it, I am doing it for her. I wear red for my Nanny, Joan Hudson Daniels 9/15/35-12/18/99