“Heeeeeeey, Braaaaaan,” said Nanny over my car’s speakerphone as Braaaaan and I proceeded on our Sunday drive.
“Y’all watchin’ the gaaaaame?” We weren’t but of course, Nanny was. It was Sunday and her Bucs were playing. Although Braaaaan and I had spent the bulk of our Sundays watching Buccaneers football, that Sunday we’d decided to head out on the town.
Nanny’s southern drawl was comforting, welcoming, loving, friendly and caring in the way a grandmother’s voice should be. Her pitch unmistakable, it carried with it a smile you could see through the phone line and a sweetness and embrace you could most certainly feel.
Nanny loved not only her Bucs but the Bolts as well. I remember a few years back watching highlights from a Lightning game as we sat in Nanny’s living room, complete with all the family photos that you’d expect to find hanging on a grandmother’s walls, and Nanny eagerly sharing her thoughts on the team. If you’re an old school hockey fan and you had a 90-year-old Southern, white woman breaking down the evening’s NHL action on your bingo card, step to the counter for you’re a winner.
Nanny’s frail body would often sport a Derrick Brooks jersey, her favorite Buccaneer of all-time. For her birthday years ago, Braaaaaan spoiled Nanny with a surprise. You see, Braaaaan thoroughly understood Nanny’s love for all things Buccaneers and her unwavering affinity for good ol’ number 55.
So, Bran splurged.
There’s this app called Cameo where you can pay famous athletes, singers and movie stars to send you a personalized message. Braaaaaan got Derrick Brooks to record Nanny a happy birthday to which she sat and watched in amazement. Twice. And then some.
“He called my naaaame!!!” she shouted in disbelief in the following video I bet you can’t watch but once.
At the ripe old age of 92, Nanny passed away last week. She was an absolute joy, a sincere woman for whom cutting to the chase was never an issue. I only wish I’d known her longer but the time that I was able to spend with her let me know how special she was, how much she was loved and how much she loved in return. The Bucs and Bolts lost a huge fan this week and we lost a family member we cherish deeply.
Whoever said sports doesn’t bond us doesn’t know what they’re talking about. And whoever thought that a little old lady couldn’t teach you a few things about hockey, football and life in the process doesn’t know too much either.
We’ll miss you, Nanny, and I’ll keep my eye on Braaaaan and the boys for ya’ while you’re gone.
In loving memory…
Beautifully written. Very special in so many ways. Thanks for this post and so sorry … know she will be terribly missed.
Thank you for sharing this, SC. She was absolutely the best. I will forever miss her and a day will not go by that I don’t think of her. You truly captured her spirit in this post. Her love of all things Tampa was palpable but her love of the Bucs was insurmountable. She WAS Tampa and I love her beyond words.