The Happenings of the Anderson Family: The Highest Form of Flattery

We've all heard the old saying "Imitation is the highest form of flattery."

Well, if that's true, then my Nana should be very flattered.

Daughter M, and her Baby S (the one year old), and I jetted out to my old home town, San Jose, CA, did some fun sightseeing and spent several hours with my mom and her mom, my Nana who is 95. Nana never stopped smiling the whole time. She is a delightful, albeit slowing down, matriarch who has lived a full life and, as she always says, is "hangin' in there, honey!" She spends most of her time at home and is cared for by a wonderful lady 24 hours a day. In her earlier years, she was an active, busy bee, constantly cooking, baking, gardening and all around taking care of everyone. I am her first grandchild and think I am the most loved! (The trick to being the best grandparent is to make EACH grandchild feel this way!) Although we live many miles away, she is constantly in my prayers and thoughts.

I chose the name "Nana" because of the respect I have for her. It is such an endearing term and I love it when my grandkidlets say "Nana" to me.

Here are some highlights of the short trip.

M hadn't been to Fisherman's Wharf in SF so drove across the bay from the Oakland Airport. You can see Alcatraz in the background.

Hubby told us the sea lions had left. Well, they're back.

At the Wax Museum we saw the Bushes! George and George and...

The Bush Man of Fisherman's Wharf - a legend. You can see him in the background behind the balloons. He just sits there behind his branches and then scares people. Once he scared me! Watch a video and another video of what this guy does! It's a HOOT! M didn't get spooked. I wish she had!

On the second day of our trip we planned to go to Nana's, but had some time in the morning first. We found my dad's old dental lab! Here it is looking alot like it did over 30 years ago.

It still says Los Gatos Dental Lab on the door.

Dad's workbench. The same cabinets are still there!

This man used to be my dad's delivery boy! He now owns the lab. He remembered my mom. It was a sweet journey down memory lane for both of them.

We then met Nana, her brother Uncle JC (James Clarence Green) and his wife, Colleen for lunch. It was great to see them again. Uncle JC is ailing, but for 93, he's incredibly spry and just sold his last horse 3 weeks ago - a sad event for him. Aunt Colleen, we discovered, used to compete in 10 K's when she was in her sixties. She would win her age group!

The young (!) Nana giving S a ride while singing "Pony Boy." I don't remember who used to give me rides like this, but I know they did. Every baby loves it (almost as much as Nana).

The old homestead. I think Nana and Papa owned it since the 40's. Her children are working hard to make it possible for her to stay here in her later years. Look how great the little yard looks.

S and Nana liked each other very much.

The beads that every child in the family has loved to play which divides the closet off from Nana's room. M used to do this and now her daughter is!

M got a kick out of using this tool to grab huge lemons from Nana's tree. S wouldn't let this one go all afternoon. She chewed off the rind, spit it out and went back for more. What a sweet sour puss!