Article December 20, 2010 Issue

REMEMBERING NANI

BY ARIANA DALE

My nani was, and forever will be, an example of the spirit of Christmas.

When I lived in San Diego near Nani and Papa, Christmas celebrations were always grand. Relatives would come from all over the country. My cousins and I would wait patiently as we wolfed down our mandatory eggs and hot chocolate before we could even think about opening our overflowing stockings and presents that seemed to fill the room.

I realized it wasn't Santa behind all of the gifts and wrapping paper, and noticed how Nani watched, holding her camera, and smiled from head to toe as our faces lit up with delight at the presents we received. It took me a while longer to realize why she was so happy, even though she received so few presents herself. But I finally saw that it wasn't the receiving of material gifts that brought pure joy to her eyes, but the gift of seeing the joy in others' faces because of something she'd given.