A thought came to me one morning this past week while at Nancy & Bill's home that, in many ways, my sister Nancy's spirit was a reflection of the flowers she so loved to tend to in her garden. When happy and healthy, the flowers around her home grabbed…. No….. DEMANDED the attention of passers-by.
When in full bloom, her flowers are glorious - riotous in color and outrageous in form. I loved visiting their house when the flowers were in bloom, attracting butterflies and so many hummingbirds. Growing up in Carrick, I don't think I ever saw a hummingbird, but in Nancy's garden, they were everywhere. If you've ever visited Bill and Nancy's home during the right time of year, you surely would have observed all of this.
Much like her wildflowers, you knew instantly when Nancy was happy and healthy; she made it easy… the outward proof would be expressed in which hat she selected from the many, many, many hats she’s collected throughout her life.
The specific one she chose to wear…. to attend an important event or meet up with family or a special friend.... would be the outward expression of the joy and happiness she was feeling on the inside. Take a little time to admire Nancy's hat collection here today. This is not the entire collection, there are many more. There are several Steeler ballcaps that the family will hold on to for Steeler season.
Nearly all of the photos we've gathered here in our photo gallery of Nancy's life show her wearing just the right hat, her beaming smile and her breathtaking blue eyes.
Oh....those piercing blue eyes, not gray but light blue. .... like the color of blue at the edge of the earth's atmosphere. I imagine one might see that shade of blue in heaven everywhere, though I don't think I've ever really seen it anywhere else and now….will never see again, at least not until we meet again.
I will miss her so, so terribly.