Last Wednesday I had to say goodbye to a very special person in my life--Nana. She has shaped who I am today and this past week I've thought of her and our memories together often. I helped my mother gather and write these thoughts and memories about Nana for the funeral. Miss you Nana! Nana was beautiful. She never went anywhere without her “face on,” red lipstick, and a spritz of Chanel No. 5. As a little girl I would stare at her from the backseat of the Cadillac in her glamorous sunglasses, or colored glasses as she called them, and her long dark hair pulled up in her signature bun. I thought she looked like a movie star. Nana was just as gorgeous on the inside—so kind-hearted and always ready to help a friend in need. I always loved this line of her ethical will:
“Be kind—I have always most enjoyed people who are funny, smart and kind. It occurs to me that kindness is the only one of these traits you can easily develop. Anyone can act with kindness and too few people do.”
Many of us were lucky enough to travel with Nana, and oh, it was always an adventure. She took her daughters and granddaughters on travels to Mexico, Europe, the Caribbean, New Mexico and Kenton, Oklahoma, and of course, countless trips to the place she loved most—Cuchara, Colorado. I fondly remember piling into the Cadillac with Nana, Grangran and the poodle for a “windshield tour” of the countryside as they liked to call it. We’d drive off into the horizon listening and laughing loudly to Garrison Keillor tapes.
Nana loved to travel with the love of her life and best friend, Wade Depp, by her side. The adventures they had are evidenced in the watercolors she’s painted and stories she’s wrote from her trips. We are all so very thankful to Nana and Grangran starting the tradition of going to the cabin in Cuchara each summer. We all know how special Cuchara was to Nana.
Another quote of Nana’s that I've always loved is “Surround yourself with people who absolutely love you.” And, she sure did just that. Nana’s fridge was always covered with the photos of her daughters and their families. How she kept up with the lives of all six of us granddaughters, a grandson, and 10 great-grandchildren, I don’t know! But, she was always so proud of the law school graduations, new great-grandchildren, the dance recitals, ball games, and always so excited to help pick out the prom dresses and wedding dresses.
Nana also taught us so much about love. She fell in love with her high school sweetheart—Wade Depp—who picked up her green oxford in the halls of Hugoton High school. This August they celebrated 65 years together. I think we can all agree the love, the friendship and the life they created for themselves has had an impact on all of us and is a constant source of inspiration.
In the end of her ethical will, Nana wrote, “Thank you all for your love, which has made my life so special.” But it was Nana who really made each of our lives so very special.
