Page 8 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Spring 2021 - Online Magazine
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Senior
Senior
Beth Gern
How Beth "Nana" Gern
Impacted My Life
Nana’s life is a continual
by Avery Thompson work of art. Her smile is
persistent and luminous,
even when facing life’s
fter moving into our harder trials. When she
country home several years says, “I love you,” doubt
Aago, I was slightly nervous is nonexistent because
about meeting our neighbors. My you can see in her eyes
parents were ahead of me and my how far beyond those
brothers were running around simple words her meaning
nearby as we made our way to stretches; you can hear in
meet the woman who lived across her voice how deep her
the dirt road from us. The woman love is.
shook my parents’ hands, then Her work ethic is
mine, as she introduced herself. unparalleled; she’s
“I’m Beth Gern.” She had a wide, constantly serving,
near-giddy smile as she turned to creating, fixing, and
the awkward ten-year-old with a helping. In Nana’s home,
short-bobbed haircut that was me walls are adorned with
and added, “but you can call me creations of her own
‘Nana’.” I rarely refer to her as hands and others’; some
anything other than “Nana” even traditionally transparent Though my curiosities constantly
now, seven years later. windows and a few lamp shades changed, Nana willingly taught
When first meeting someone, it’s are replaced with vibrant colors me about whatever piqued my
impossible to know how greatly cut into precise shapes to form interest. It started with sewing,
the person may impact your life, marvelous images she fabricated then cooking, and later, stained
your way of thinking and acting, on her own and a few others she glass. Whenever I complete a
and even your smile. I had no idea has bought; every meal and snack painting or drawing, she is thrilled
how amazing it was going to be to she prepares in her kitchen is a to see what I have created, listening
simply spend time with Nana. The delicious experiment, aesthetically to whatever story is behind it, and
ten-year-old I once was could never arranged. Nana’s life is artwork, adding a touch of constructive
have imagined how wonderfully from any and every aspect of her criticism. Nana encourages me to
my life was about to shift. life, in ways beyond what the eye pursue whatever it is that makes
can see. me smile, by simply wanting to
8 Amarillo Senior Link
