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I should be in Bradley, Illinois today celebrating my Nana Marge Ryan, on this, her 100th birthday. Remarkably, sheâs still living independently, volunteering, healthy, and as strong willed as ever.
The older I get, the more I realize how much her life shaped mine. 1/
I should be in Bradley, Illinois today celebrating my Nana Marge Ryan, on this, her 100th birthday. Remarkably, sheâs still living independently, volunteering, healthy, and as strong willed as ever.
The older I get, the more I realize how much her life shaped mine. 1/
Nana is a product of the great metropolis of Cabery, IL. One of four daughters, she was the first in her family to leave farm life. Proudly British, she married a boy in a band, my Papa Ryan, an Irish Catholic from a Potato famine family living in Bradley.
Papa wasnât schooled in the traditional sense. His family was really poor. He was a street musician during the Depression. My Nana wanted to be a nurse, so she went to Chicago & got trained, then ended up in NOLA when my Papa went through Army OCS during WWII. 3/
She moved back to Bradley when my Papa was serving in Iran, working as a nurse in a factory. His only brother died in the war, and her house is still a shrine to him.
After the war, Papa joined the railroad, and Nana kept working. She worked days, he drove trains at night. 4/
After the war, Papa joined the railroad, and Nana kept working. She worked days, he drove trains at night. 4/
She never quit working. She raised two kids as a career woman. They bought a small house after my late uncle Bob was born in the early 50s. She was determined to be first in family to send her kids to college. My mom jokes she graduated out of fear for her life.
My only uncle inherited my Papaâs artistic talents. He graduated with a masters in theater, not exactly a traditional rural Illinois degree. He was also gay. They loved him, and his eventual life partner Jack. When AIDS took their lives, she never left their side. 4/
She has an amazing sense of adventure - has traveled literally around the world. I still try to envision my farm girl grandmother wandering the streets of Delhi, or Bangkok, but she did.
She was also a terrible, but avis golfer. Broke 100 once in 60 years of trying.
I did take her to @TPCSawgrass once though. The course was too much for her, but she soldiered on. She didnât want to play 17, but she teed up her 9 wood, hit it to 6 feet and made birdie.
I did take her to @TPCSawgrass once though. The course was too much for her, but she soldiered on. She didnât want to play 17, but she teed up her 9 wood, hit it to 6 feet and made birdie.
But most of all, I reflect on how much her life taught me, particularly at a young age: respecting independent women, loving everyone for who they are, for accepting life for what it is, and having a sense of adventure while being humble & frugal.
Happy 100 Nana!
Happy 100 Nana!
