As the seasons of life continue to change, the day will undoubtedly come where we lose those closest to us. Even the ones that taught us more than we will ever know, the ones that we have always looked to for guidance, and the ones that we strive to emulate. We hope that one day we could leave a legacy half as astounding as the one they are leaving for all of us. Ruth Ann Collins (Nana) was all of that and more.
My wife and I started dating in the spring of 2006, and by the summer of that year it was time to start meeting each other’s families. She said, “of course I want my Mom and Dad to like you, but really nothing matters until you meet Nana. If she doesn’t like you, well…you’re out”. I prepared for the first time I would meet her as if I was preparing to meet the Queen of England, I had never been so nervous to meet one person.
It turned out that the person I was so nervous to meet was one of the most genuine people I had ever run across in my entire life, and was someone I continually learned from for the next 14 years. She taught us everything with her class, her faith, and her unparalleled commitment to her family and her community. Her strength and wisdom knew no bounds, and her passion for life shined through even in the most difficult of moments.
The past few years any time a hem would come out of a pair of my slacks or I needed anything sewed I would put it in my truck knowing that Nana would be calling me sometime because her printer was broken or Netflix wouldn’t work. I would happily restart her internet router or fix the plug on the cable box while she got her sewing supplies out. Then we would just sit and talk. We would talk about education, politics, books, or whatever was going on at the time. I truly enjoyed hearing about her extensive experience with students, especially special education students, but any conversation with Nana was special.
Having spent her life as a wife, mother, grandmother, educator, cattle raiser, choir singer, bridge player, mayor, world traveller, church elder, humanitarian to the world, and personal seamstress to her children and grandchildren, she was never short of wisdom that she could impart on anyone.
Unfortunately, now more than ever, the world and those of us trying to survive in it could use some of that wisdom to drive us through the madness. I know I am not the only one who could have benefited from a discussion with Nana over the past four months. However, she left us her strength to conquer any issue that comes our way. Her children and her five granddaughters are some of the strongest people you will ever come across, as they have had that picture of strength to emulate their entire lives. I can’t wait to continue to bestow those qualities onto my children as they get older, and continually tell them stories about their Nana. They are right on the cusp of an age where they will remember the great times they had with her, and how much she loved them, and we will be sure to convey that their entire lives.
I can’t tell you how nervous I was those many years ago to meet her. When the build up is “if she doesn’t approve you’re out” high levels of stress ensue. Honestly, I was 24 and kind of a walking disaster back then, but somehow I did enough to impress her and get her and the rest of the family’s approval.
I know that I would not be the person that I am today if not for the insight that either came directly from Nana, or more often, indirectly from those whom she had been teaching their entire lives. Her legacy lies not only in our memories of her, but the amazing people that she leaves behind that continue to shine from the life she modeled. In the end THAT is why nothing mattered until I met Nana, because she was the one that everyone strived to be. That in itself makes us all better, and I consider myself a prime example of that.
Until we meet again, we love you.
“When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days, to sing God’s praise,
Than when we first begun”
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