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Happy 80th Birthday Aunt Nancy

2/25/2013

5 Comments

 
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On the day Nancy was born.
Happy Birthday to my dear Aunt Nancy, who is 80 today. Which, on my mom's side of the family, makes her young. Those women live well into their 90's and I don't expect Nancy to be any different. 

I was the first grandchild born on both sides of the family. You know what that means...I was the favorite.

Nancy is a woman to look up to. She worked full time while putting herself through law school; not something a lot of women did many years ago. She never married. She is the keeper of the family lore. She needs to write that stuff all down. She loves to drive...fast. She had a Volkswagen Diesel Rabbit way before it was cool. She had an awesome studio apartment on West End Avenue in NYC that was the bomb. She worked in communications for many years. She lives in Vermont, a place of millions of memories for me, and I would guess my siblings and cousins. That is where she built her dream home and I might add, cared for her mom, my Nana, who lived until she was 98. She is obsessed with any and all gadgets and loves all things technical. She WILL read a manual. She is generous. She is fair.


Nancy gives outstanding gifts. She has given me gifts that fill my house and my heart because I know when I look at them or touch them or wear them, I can proudly say, "Aunt Nancy gave me that." 

In 4th grade, a box arrived in the mail addressed to ME. From Bergdorf's. (Or, it might have been Bloomingdale's.) In it was THE perfect outfit. JUST FOR ME. I wore it for my class picture. Best guess is my sister Jane has that picture somewhere. Ivory turtleneck and a brown jumper. My hair is in pigtails.

When I was 13 I learned to navigate the Long Island Rail Road and the bus system in NYC when I took a multi-week course on pattern making on Madison Avenue. I don't sew anymore, but I could probably rock something out if I was asked to. Because I was going through Penn Station one weekend, I bought my first ever album, Fleetwood Mac "Rumors."

When I was 16 I received my first piece of Tiffany jewelry - the Elsa Peretti sterling silver "m" ~ of course I still have it.

When I graduated high school I received a Cartier Battersea Box - it's the four seasons, something that plays a massive part in TGHR.

Nancy is terrified of dogs. And yet, she gave us all the cutest, easiest dogs any of us have ever owned! 

Paintings. Sculptures. Blown Glass. Bookends.

Everything is well thought out.
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Nancy took me to see my first Broadway show at Lincoln Center in 1966. I was five! She took me to see Ethel Merman in "Annie Get Your Gun." Legend has it I came home and sang my heart out. Hands on hips and all.

And so, I say with all the love in my heart:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANCY!
Have a magical, wonderful, warm, know you are loved kind of day!

xoxo

I will send her this link in email. I would love it if you are a family member if you will add your thoughts in the comments and if you are a reader, please, join in the fun!
5 Comments
Charles Damm
2/25/2013 12:52:29 am

Happy Birthday Aunt Nancy. My fondest memory to this day is when my parents went to Ireland and we stayed with you and grandma in Vermont. Every night before bed you would read us part of Gulliver's Travels which I enjoyed immensely. Happy Birthday and many, many more.

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Jane McCarthy
2/25/2013 12:45:18 pm

Loved this...need to read it again in the morning...So cool.

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Ed Damm
2/26/2013 05:32:23 am

It is all too true. While many of the notes brought back fond memories, including the Gulliver's Travels memory, the one that I loved the most was the 'likes to drive FAST' comment. For some reason, I remember rides up to Vt, in that rabbit, going very fast. I always wondered if that was just the way I remembered it. Now I know. Scuba lessons, spending days with the secrataries at NBC(I remember them all being pretty), oh, and Nancy too, the cafeteria there and the roof top garden. Icecapades, meals shared, all the points about her being pretty tech savy, etc., loved it all and I will always love Nancy and will never forget her generosity, fairness and all of the good times we have, and continue to, share.

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Joe Roach link
2/26/2013 10:30:27 am

The history of Nancy Damm and me goes beyond 80 years. She says that my existence in utero was her parents' motivation, but our very near birthdates (mine 1/23/33) imply the unlikely notion that my mother shared any details about genital activity with her best friend, Nancy's mother, who was married to my father's best friend, Arthur Damm. One thing I know, however, is that the four of them are cheering in heaven for this good woman who has brought the warming grace of God to so many of us poor sinners...the thousands of us who are very glad you were born. Love, Joe Roach

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Tracy Senken
2/28/2013 11:53:43 am

Nancy gave me "fancy shampoo", Pantene, to get rid of my tumbleweed sized knot in the back of my head (4th grade); I always thought she was so glamorous, like Mary Tyler Moore; single woman, big city, career girl...she gave me beautiful sheets with crayoned flowers too...I remember going to the circus and Chinatown too...so many good memories...Gulliver's Travels was great! Love ya Nancy

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    Maggie Pinque

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