Week 2 goes to Grandma Bea, another person who has done tremendous things for my family. This spunky, determined lady has been our part time nanny for just over a year now.
She was married to a Navy man who was deployed on one of the first nuclear submarines for most of her married life. He died at a young age of cancer, which now we would likely attribute to his time subsurface on the submarine. Because of military bureaucracy and paperwork mishaps, she got none of her husband's military pension. A single mother in her 40's, she was left to raise 4 children with no financial support. She worked three jobs in order to provide for her kids and keep from losing her house.
Some her of jobs included caring for the elderly, being a nanny, a cook, and a bartender. She even served beer dressed as a German barmaid at the local Oktoberfest celebrations! She has been a staple of our community for half a century and all the school bus drivers know her since she has picked up and dropped off so many children over the years. Bea hasn't been to a doctor in 35 years and walks around the neighborhood in bare feet every day, even in the winter! Her plucky personality and spirit keep us smiling.
She keeps us on our toes and knows our house better than we do at times. Though often scolding me for leaving my clothes on the floor or my art supplies on the table, she also reminds me to keep learning and laughing. She knows the importance of women being independent financially and emotionally from their husbands. So when she sees adventures on my fridge calendar, she encourages me.
This week our "Grandma Bea" turns 78. Happy Birthday!
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