Perspective

​So after Pixar's Coco, I've been thinking about animated movie grandmothers.  Which naturally leads to contemplating Grandmothers in film, literature, and fine art. 

OMGosh.  This could take a lifetime to analyze. 

Since I'm really interested in how to be the best Nonna for my own GB, let's start with something concrete: who are the Grandmothers in recent animated films in the US (I just can't go there with all the international films....Marji's grandmother in Persepolis alone is a good for a full post! )

​And recent means in the past 20 or 30 years -- perspective, people!

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GB, perspective is all about time and experience. Both change how we look at the world.  Your world is currently quite small and cozy. And if you could share your perspective, it would be focused on what your Mom had to eat recently -- how it makes you feel.  Or, perhaps, the sounds you hear -- Mom let me know you can now hear and recently flip-flopped at your Dad's voice! Good job, kiddo! 

Anyway, it is hopeful that the longer you live and the more life experiences you rack up, the deeper and broader your understanding of the world becomes.  Now it doesn't always work out this way -- with humans, it is often the opposite.  The older we get, the more narrow our view of the world. 

​Don't let this happen to you, GB.

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Fascinating.

Grandmothers tend to show up in animated coming-of-age stories -- stories where the protagonist is trying to find herself. Pocahontas' Grandmother Willow, Anastasia's Grand Duchess, Mulan's Grandma Fa, and Moana's Tala  -- with wisdom, vulnerability, humor or idiosyncrasies these Grandmothers help the girl to find her true self. 

And on the other hand, most of the truly scary characters in animated films are also old women -- just not named as Grandmothers --  Arial's Ursula is one of the scariest animated characters for me. Or Aurora's Maleficent! 

​Yikes!

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Oh boy, GB!  This Nonna-thing is going to be tricky!

Memories of my Grandmothers are mostly sweet, a few scary, and zippo on the wisdom angle.  I'm sure my Grandmas were wise, I just don't remember any of the wisdom sticking with me.  Perhaps living half a continent away created very different relationships with my grandparents than those my cousins experienced....

Kiddo, I am just human. Hopefully, I will never frighten you and your memories of our time together will be incredibly sweet and important to you. 

And I do hope whatever perspective on life or wisdom I can share with you will make your life better. Stronger. Happier.

                                                                               As always,
                                                                               Your Nonna