Joe Alterio’s blog on illustration, comix, design, animation, and other bouts of total awesomeness.
Nan
My sister, Nan, and my cousin Lisa.
I’d hate for this blog to devolve into a personal blog: nothing against personal blogs, some of them are really terrific, I just think you need to either be super fascinating or have a super fascinating outlook, and much to my dismay, and Blogger’s delight, these folks are few and far between. So. Bear with me.
At 1:15 EST today, my grandmother, Nan, aka Mary Alterio nee McCannon passed into the Great Unknown, of nothing much more than old age. I had just seen her, about a week and a half ago, and while looking frail and tiny, her head lolling about like an orange on a stick, she rcognized me, my sister, and even Molly, with a sharpness that was incongruent with her appearrance: she even remembered that Molly and I were getting married in a week. We had sent her an invite, but it had gotten returned to us. I guess the postman got confused with the room numbers. Regardless, we got the invite returned to us in the mail, with a stamp in red that said “No such address.” A few days later, and she’s gone.
My grandmother was a lot of things, and I’m not one to gild someone’s reputation, post-mortum. My grandmother could be a real tough nut: intractible, grouchy, stubborn, and raging sonuvagun when she wanted to be. But she was always, always, putting her family first, and it’s no small secret that my Dad was her favorite child, and with me being the son of my dad, I got some pretty preferential treatment, too. So, I can hear all the stories of how she threw a fork through my uncle’s hand, or the time she attacked my grandfather with various kitchen implements, but all I can think of is how nice she was to me, and how in awe she was of my admittedly very little creative talent. That always made me feel good.
I’ll give my grandmother one more shout out, and that she was definitely on the coolest grandmas around, and by “coolest”, I mean two things: she drank like Manhattans like no one’s business, and when she was young, she was the terror of the Revere Beach swing dancing scene. I have heard from multiple sources that Nan could jitterbug up and down the boardwalk dancehalls to such an extent that guys would approach her, midweek, to see if they could nab a dance on Saturday night. No THAT’s what I’m talking about.
Suffice to say, we’ll be having both Manhattan’s and swing dancing at our wedding in a week. So it comes out in the wash.
I miss you, Nan.
Condolences to you and your family, my friend. I had the good fortune of first meeting Nan up in Maine a few years ago. Even that late in her life, she was full of the pride, playful spirit and love for her family that she has quite visibly passed on to her son and grandkids. Today is a sad occasion, but also a time to remember a great life.
I had the distinct pleasure and honor of spending near enough a years time with my mother [AKA Nan] 2006-2007 . This was a true gift. Her rye sense of humor and joie de vivre was infectious. I do and will remember her always for her straight talk and no BS attitude when it came to pretense and posers.
But most of all I’ll miss her unconditional love and dedication to our wild bunch of crazy brothers and, of course, our wonder and now passed father .
NB: Something not known to most is the fact that she could make the best damned tomahawks in the neighborhood. Nearly cut my thumb off once!
Mom, you will be missed dearly
Joe, your writing and remembrance of your Nan is wonderful. I sadly only met her in this past year, when her sense of humor was already less. I did see her strength, stubborness and individuality and admired it. I always was amazed at her perfect manicures and elegant hands. I know you and Gina must have been her favorite grandkids, because as you said, your dad Brian, was her fave. She had great taste! and I think it fitting that the last grandkids she interacted with were you, your sister and Molly. Sometimes life does work the way it’s supposed to. Just like toasting her at your wedding next week with a strong Manhattan!
She would approve. As much as you all will miss her, drinking to her spirit and energy and love, will be a great tribute to her.