I've been thinking a lot about my Nanna recently. She served in World War II, was a teacher, mother, sewer, knitter, baker, tennis player, sprinter, and I guess all-round athlete since she took up swimming in her 80's and pilates in her 90's.
She passed away peacefully a few years ago at 99.
She still holds world records for the 100m and 200m in the 55+ age group, I think. That's what I tell people, anyway.
She set one of her world records in such spectactular fashion, they didn't believe they had got the timer right.
She rain the 100m so fast, they couldn't believe it.
It must have been wind-assisted.
So they made her run it again, t he other way, into the wind
So, into the wind, and less than 10 minutes later, she ran it again, this time, .02 seconds slower.
I found the newspaper clipping of this not too long ago and sent it to my family whatsapp channel for a little nostalgia and celebration.
One sister, wrote back, quick smart: " You can just picture Nanna. Sitting down, putting her shoes back on, smiling and saying, 'No problem, I can do it again. Where do you want me'?"
That deep knowing in herself. Ooof, that's what made her unstoppable.
Before there was Gout Gout, there was my Nanna, Aileen.
The only thing Nanna didn't do in moderation, was saying: "everythign in moderation".
Whenever I need extra stores of energy or resillience, I just think of Nanna. It's almost instantaneous how her memory and joy replenishes my spirit!
Athlete energy, treat people as they treat you, and everythign in moderation. Got it.
Thank you, Nanna!