The final piece — Nana — crossed the ocean in 1923 when she lost both her parents. I can’t say I blame her either because I wouldn’t want to stay if all I had left were bad memories. She packed it up and left Scotland to see Lady Liberty welcome her to a new way of life. Here, Nana met James of Francis and Mary, our wonderful Scots-Irish maternal great-grandfather, and started a family. They are responsible for my Grammy, the sassy little woman who shaped me into the fiesty creature I am today.
Nana’s traditions still last through our family; we take our tea with milk and minimal sugar, and we adore British humor. Crafting yarn into something warm and cozy became a way of sharing love. Infusing a matrifocal structure, Nana needed to become more involved after Great-Grandpa James passed during Grammy’s childhood. Instead of this focus detracting from paternal involvement, it has served to remind the women of our family that we provide important skills and roles, too. Though I only had her in my life until I was four years old, her influence shaped my “feminism is for everyone” mantra. Strong female role models are just as necessary to society as our male counterparts, and we all benefit when everyone is treated well!
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