A Fond Memory of Nanny

I have a ton of memories with Nanny since we lived with her during my high school years. I will share a few here and maybe some more later. Let me preface all of these by saying I was the only granddaughter until I was about 13. I was soiled, but please don't hold that against me!
I remember being Elementary School age and Nanny would take me on shopping sprees. We would go to a few stores and she would want to buy me everything I looked at twice. I remember being nervous to go home after one shopping trip because I new I would get in trouble for how much Nanny bought me. I promise I didn't ask for all of it!
This shopping bug was great when I was a Freshman at BYU. By that time Nanny lived full-time in AZ. Since she was close to Utah, I went down there for Thanksgiving. I must have made Nanny's day when I told her I was thinking about buying some girly clothes and maybe even a purse. I came back from Thanksgiving with a suitcase full of super cute girly clothes.
As a side note to that trip...I had a friend from middle school that moved to AZ (we also served in the same mission...weird!) While I was down there we hung out together. One of the times he picked me up he just honked from outside. Nanny was shocked. She lectured me on how a boy should pick up a girl at the door. I laughed and told her that he was more like a little brother and this was DEFINITELY not a date.
I remember that the Christmas after my dad died, my grandma and her good friend were a secret Santa that dropped off bags and bags of presents for our little family. It was so kind. It helped me feel special after a pretty tough year.
I remember going to the Lake (the summer trailer park) with Nanny. She would let me drive the golf cart. I was pulled over once by the trailer park security and they told me I was too young to drive, especially alone. I guess 10 is pretty young on a road with cars.
Nanny also gave me money to stock up on treats at the little convenience store in the trailer park. She would sit by the pool while I swam and swam. The tradition on those summer nights was to sit in the screened in porch with her neighbors and play "feed the kitty." Yes she taught me how to gamble. I love winning the pot of coins! Looking back I wonder if they sometimes let me win so that I could have candy money.
I also remember how excited Nanny was to have me wired shut when I was 16. That sounds mean I know. She was just so happy that when my jaw was stuck close, I had to enunciate my words more so she could finally understand me. I guess I mumbled way too much as a kid!
When we would eat dinner together in high school we drove Nanny crazy! Nanny thought that dinner was a great time to talk about our day and bond as a family. I totally agree, but Burns and I always had a thing about eating our food. We would eat way more than we would talk. It was pretty quiet unless we were asked open ended questions. Poor Nanny!
I think I inherited Nanny's love for sports. I love a good Saturday of football, basketball, baseball or even golf. Nanny could often be found watching sports on TV.
I went to Utah with Nanny and Poppy a few times. One of my scariest childhood memories comes from a car ride in downtown SLC. While we were driving her Buick died in an intersection. I can't remember what happened, but I remember freaking out a bit.
Along the lines of car rides, there was another time I was driving back from the Stake Center with Nanny. We were about 2 blocks from home when Nanny drove through a stop sign. I was shocked. I had to tease her because she had lived in our house for quiet a few decades, so that stop sign was not new to her.
I also looked up to Nanny for her family history knowledge. She did so much family history (maybe she got the bug from her mom). Maybe that is where I have gained the desire to do family history. For now this is my start, but I also desire to one day be a whiz at my extended family history. She did leave me feeling a bit intimidated because there is a missing link in our family that no one can seem to figure out. How can I figure it out when I am so novice. Maybe there will be a little help from the other side of the veil.
This last part is not my specific memory, but a memory I wish I had. My grandparents build a retirement house in St. George, UT. From what I hear it was amazing and built specifically for their needs and some wants. Apparently they made one bedroom specifically for me. It was decorated very girly. I never got to see it because Poppy died shortly after it was finished and Nanny sold it since she did not want to live there without Poppy. I learned about this just a few years ago and it helped me realize just how much my grandparents loved me. I love them too!