There are nine chicken nuggets in my purse.
My 87-year-old grandma is in the hospital. She hasn’t had much of an appetite for quite some time, and it’s hard to see her so weak and in pain.
Yesterday she got hungry specifically for Burger King chicken nuggets and I was more than happy to deliver. I ordered ten nuggets, remembered the honey mustard, and headed up to room 527.
In perfect Nana style she said, “Why’d you order so many?! I can’t eat that much!” I assured her ordering ten was cheaper than four or six (I’ve never understood nugget math) and that answer was acceptable enough for her to request the opening of the sauce.
She managed to only eat about half of one and adamantly insisted that I take the rest home for the boys. So I dutifully put the bag of leftovers in my purse.
I forgot about it until I got to CVS in Target today so Harris could get his second covid shot and I opened my purse to find his vaccine card.
Nuggets. I cringed. Then I giggled.
My grandma is the woman who has been in my life the longest (my mom, her daughter, passed away in 2010). Grandma is absolutely the most stubborn, bull-headed (Grandpa’s word) human being I have ever met. And I couldn’t love her more.
Because of her, I grew up knowing that women could be feisty and opinionated. I’ve only ever seen her wear a dress in pictures; she made it quite clear she would be attending my wedding in pants…and I couldn’t have cared less as she danced with me that night more than anyone else (I also knew if I ever met anyone as kind and patient as my grandpa, that’s who I should marry…and I did).
I took the bag of nuggets out of my purse when we got home. It’s still sitting on the kitchen counter; I just can’t bring myself to throw them away yet. They are a tangible memory at a time when I don’t know how many more I will get to make.
I do know that whenever that time comes, I have been blessed with over four decades of my grandma’s love…and her feistiness, her passion, and her example of how to be yourself. For that, I will be eternally grateful. Love you, Nana!
Rereading this to be sure this memory stays with me. I am sending you the biggest hugs, ever, sweet friend.
This is beautiful! It’s funny how something so random can stair so much emotion! Sending you and your family my love during this difficult time.