Nice Nan
I had two nan's, I guess most people do. One was a mean-spirited old bitch who died in the same way she lived, violently drunk.

The other was my proper nan, y'know, always had lemon drizzle cake and an odd assortment of toys kicking around the house.

She had a fairly difficult life, and as she got older became more and more unhappy.

She married my granddad and was disowned by her family for marrying a foreigner (he was Slovenian). A few years into their marriage, he fell through a roof and died leaving her on her own with young three sons (one of which was my dad, obviously).

Although she was a lovely person, and loved us, there was absolutely no denying that she missed my granddad enormously, never remarried, or even considered it.

After she died, I helped clear her house, my parents were happy for me to take any memento and I took the thing that I now treasure most.

It's a picture of my nan, with my granddad, when they were newly-weds. It's the only picture that exists where my nan looks genuinely happy.

I look at that picture and see my nan as a happy, young woman in love, I never saw her like that in life.

It's also my inspiration to not let my life slip away by living in the past.

However, in the event of a fire, I would be rescuing my dog first, picture second.
(Jugular, Thu 8 May 2008, 14:25, Reply)