Early mornings with Nani

Just like Nani, I have always been an early morning riser. My favorite memories when visiting Nani were getting to wake up when it was still dark outside, walking downstairs into the kitchen to the smell of coffee and Nani sitting at the kitchen table (usually with my Dad as he also loves to wake up with the chickens). It always felt so special to have those early morning hours with Nani all to myself. Usually over a game of Sequence and a plate of her infamous German pancakes I would get to listen to Nani and my Dad tell stories about their lives. Whether it was about Grandpa Dean, my Dad, Teta Anna, Uncle Joe, Uncle Ed, her spoon collection, her travels, her mushroom foraging, or camping trips, I would cherish each precious memory she was so generous to share with me. After a cup of coffee, a couple games of Sequence and a few slices of her German pancakes everyone else would start to wake up, the sun would be shining and the day would get started. But it was the slow mornings with Nani where I really got to know her, not just as my Grandma but as the adventurous, strong, determined, fiercely independent, generous and chaos loving individual that she was and that I will never forget.