My Nana – A Small Memory –

I don’t share a lot of personal thoughts over on Bluesky and Threads. Mostly, it’s a lot of workflow and reposting whatever Jason Pargin has shared. (Mostly. I do slip up a bit.) I always start off my work days with a picture of T.O.M. from early-00s TOONAMI, as if the day of adventures and action and excitement is starting.

And, when I remember to close out the work thread, I use the picture of Zoot up above that closed out episodes of THE MUPPET SHOW. Why?

Because of my Nana.

My Nana Net (short for Jeannette Acosta) died just over three weeks ago. It still hurts, but I’d like to talk a little about it now. At least, this one aspect of my relationship with her and her wonderful life. I’m not foolish enough to try and encapsulate her entire life in one blog post.

She was an artist, true and true, inspired to do massive projects before settling down for months. That’s how she worked. Nothing for a long time, only to then repaint the entire house, reupholster an old couch, redesign the kitchen, and scour piles of magazines for future designs. She painted, sculpted, and helped cultivate a love of drawing and creating in all her kids and grandkids.

*Me and my Nana, the year we both got Snuggies for Christmas.*

Born in Pennsylvania, but moved to Tucson, AZ when she was younger, my Nana was so beautiful and wonderful she was voted Rodeo Queen of her high school. (I know. Tucson.) She met my Tata, my grandfather, in high school. They were together 64 years. There’s more to say than could ever be said, but her heart was bigger and more full of love than the next five people you could meet.

So, why Zoot?

We didn’t have cable or satellite growing up for a long time. Any kids TV we could watch would have to be on the local channels, through static with rabbit ears. (Shout out to Fox Kids on weekday afternoons.) Thankfully, my grandparents, my Nana and Tata, had cable. Or satellite. I don’t recall which. But they had Nickelodeon and, most importantly, the patience to watch four unruly grandchildren while their parents got a decent night out.

Nickelodeon.

Just before Nick at Nite started, when I was a child, before BEWITCHED began, was THE MUPPET SHOW. A show I enjoyed greatly. All the lights would be out. The glow of the TV screen illuminated a floor of blankets and pillows. And there was was.

Zoot blowing his horn to signal the end of the children’s broadcasting day. The night was here. Now was no time for children to be awake. Once the television was off, the fear would begin.

But I was safe. I was in my Nana’s house. I know not many people have that kind of relationship with their grandmother, or ANY relationship with their grandmother, but I was blessed to have these memories. This kind of protection. Now every time I share that image I get to go back to childhood, to staying the night at my Nana’s house, when she cooked for us, laughed with us, and gave us stacks of blank paper to draw on. I get to relive those moments every day, so long as I post that silly image of Zoot.

She told me draw, to create, and that’s what I’m trying to do now. I’m going to miss her so much.