I almost waited too long…

This is my grandmother.  She is 88 years old.

I knew she was getting up in years.  I knew it.  I had this image in my mind of her hands.  I’ve wanted to capture this image for a few years now.  There’s always tomorrow, right?  Well… I almost waited too long.  On Thursday, July 30th, at about 7:15 in the morning, Nanny (as we grand-kids call her) had a stroke.  It was massive.  It left her unable to even hold her own head up.  I was completely devastated.  I had waited too long.  It was my own fault and I KNEW it.

God Bless the H Family.  I got the call about the stroke on the way to their session.  My Mama was supposed to keep my children, but Nanny is her mother so of course she rushed to her side.  Miss K (the Mrs. of the H Family) is a teacher and this was the LAST date we could do a session before school started.  There was nothing to do but carry on with my children in tow.  Miss K, I want to publicly thank you and your husband for understanding why I was weeping when you arrived for your session.  Your patience while I got my act together did not go unnoticed.  I just want you to know how much I appreciate you.

Back to the hands.  I had missed my opportunity to capture Nanny’s hands.  I was certain I had waited too long and I was really beating myself up about it.  But, beating the odds once again, what ever caused the stroke cleared on its own and within a matter of hours, Nanny was nearly back to her old self.  My cousin, the RN, tells me  this type of event is called a “TIA” or a “mini-stroke” (it didn’t look very mini to ME, but she’s the expert).

This past Saturday, there was a gathering of family from all parts of the nation.  We all came together to visit and catch up with one another, and I knew this was the time.  I HAD to get the image of her hands.  With the help of my Mama and a couple of uncles, we got Nanny positioned and ready for her portraits.  First, I took the image above for posterity’s sake.  Then I got down to business with the shot I had envisioned for so long.

You see, when I was a child, I would spend weeks at the time with Nanny in the summer.  Every night before bed, she would put me in the floor with a puzzle or small toy, and she would sit on the couch with her hands folded and read her Bible.  It is one of my most vivid childhood memories.  This is how I remember her.  This is MY Nanny…

It is difficult to put into words the emotion that this image brings.  I sobbed while I did the editing.  For me it is very powerful.  It’s Nanny.  And I’m so thankful the good Lord didn’t take her before I got the chance to preserve the memory.