Whatsananna? November 7, 2007

I am Nanna to my grandchildren - as my mother was Nanna to my children. Sets us apart from other Grandma’s - there’s only one Nanna.

“Nanna”, apparently” is not a term used a lot around here, and one day my grandson, who was about five, was trying to explain to his little friend that his Nanna was coming to pick him up.

I can guess how the interchange went, but what I know for sure is that when I arrived, he led me into the classroom, opened the door with a flourish, pointed at me, and said, “Mitchell, this is a Nanna.”

I am firmly into middle age now, with those intensive child rearing years behind me and no kids living at home full time.

I am single by conscious choice, having spent 28 years as someone’s ______. (Fill in those blanks.) I loved a lot of things about being married or someone’s woman, and I loved almost everything about raising kids. But now those kids are grown and creating the most fascinating and brilliant lives of their own, including their own families.

Which leaves me with the obvious life task of figuring out…

…whatthehellisananna? Especially, this Nanna?

I’m very very much into kindness. I think it counts. A lot. That means I’m against “-ism’s” of any sort, and am appalled when I discover them in myself.

I believe in speaking out against injustice as I see it.

I also believe, with all my heart, that life is really very, very good on the balance.

In my late forties, I have had my share of heartbreaks, losses, stupid-ass decisions and their consequences. But I have also had my hands literally overflow many many times with blessings and friends and catch-your-breath moments.

I believe in living in those moments, as much as I possibly can - give or take a bout here and there with depression, PMS, paychecks that don’t stretch quite far enough, and the like.

I can’t be around people whose basic worldview is that “life sucks” and “people suck” because they suck the life out of me. I’m your girl if you need encouragement through a rough patch - but if you want to stay there and built a cozy little shit-covered nest, count me out.

I blog about the ramifications of being single in a coupled-up world, my children and their adventures, what it means to be a woman, and - uh - lots of other random stuff.

If you’ve hit this page, it means you’ve taken the time to find out more about me, and that makes me feel very honored. Honestly.

And if you want to contact me you can do so by emailing me at sterlingmf at aol dot com

Clever, huh?