Celebrating 50 Blog Posts: A Tribute to My Daughter Stacy

As I sit down to publish the 50th blog post for FinallyNana.com, I can't help but reflect on the journey that has brought me here. It has been about seven years since I began writing about the joy of becoming a Nana and sharing my many adventures with our grandson, Cooper. From his gestation and birth in Australia to his infancy, toddlerhood, and now childhood, each moment has been a treasure.

Cooper turned nine years old in 2025, coinciding with a significant milestone for his mother, my daughter, who made me a Nana—Stacy turned 50! To mark this occasion, I decided to dedicate my 50th blog post to her. In this post, I will share 50 poignant details and highlights about Stacy's early life, seen through my eyes. These memories will be presented predominantly in chronological order, with a sprinkle of nostalgia and humor.

A Memorable Nana and Grandson Interaction

Before diving into my memories of Stacy, let me share a recent interaction with Cooper. When he was eight years old, Jesse and I visited our family in Fiji. We spent a few days at the beautiful Nanuku resort near their home. The resort provided bicycles for getting around, and I decided to hop on one, despite not having ridden much lately.

As I carefully rode to the main building, I realized the seat was quite high for me. When I slowed down to stop, I awkwardly dismounted and tipped over onto a hard gravel road. Thankfully, neither the bike nor I broke, but I ended up with scrapes and bruises all along my right side. Talk about embarrassing!

The next day, as Cooper jumped on his bike, I thought I’d give it another go. But Cooper looked at me with concern and said, “Nana, I don’t think you should ride the bike.” I took his advice—wisdom often comes from the young!

The Early Days of Stacy

1. A Surprise Appearance

Stacy was born with blue eyes and blond hair, a surprising sight for her father, who had dark brown hair and eyes, and her mother, who had hazel eyes. My mother, Granny, had beautiful blue eyes, so perhaps it was a family trait. Dad Jesse jokingly voiced concerns about her being our biological child, but there was no doubt in my mind.

2. The Comfort of Noonie

As a baby, Stacy became attached to her yellow baby blanket, which she affectionately named Noonie. She would drag it around the house, chanting “noon-a-noonie, noonie, noon,” a refrain from her favorite show, Sesame Street.

3. The Tantrum Years

Stacy was an adorable and smart toddler, but she had her share of memorable tantrums. Growing up in the 1970s, when television shows were only broadcast at specific times, she adored Sesame Street. If we missed the opening song, she would become almost apoplectic.

4. A Trip to the Hospital

One Thanksgiving weekend, a tragic accident involving Noonie led us to Mass General Hospital. Three-year-old Stacy tripped on her blanket and fell onto the edge of a glass table, cutting herself just above the chin. We spent hours at the aquarium while waiting for the plastic surgeon to stitch her up. Perhaps that was when her love for marine biology began!

5. Old Yeller

Among her many stuffed animals, Stacy had a special fondness for her little yellow dog, Old Yeller. He became so loved that he aged like the Velveteen Rabbit.

6. The Kennel of Yellow Dogs

Stacy accumulated several other stuffed yellow dogs in her “kennel.” One was almost a twin to Old Yeller, which was a lifesaver when the original went missing during a hospital visit for her brother, Benjy. Thankfully, the twin was there to fill in.

7. The Banana Incident

Stacy had a peculiar habit of throwing tantrums if her banana broke while being peeled. It would start with a silent scream and escalate into a heaving crescendo of crying. I often found myself recalling the nursery rhyme about the little girl with a curl—when she was good, she was very, very good, but when she was bad, she was horrid!

8. Brandy the Irish Setter

Stacy often yelled, “Brandy’s bothering me!” about our Irish Setter. But after we moved away for her dad’s hand surgery fellowships, she became enamored with Brandy, who was the focal point of her drawings. Our renter, who had grown fond of Brandy, asked to keep her, and I had to diplomatically explain to Stacy that Brandy was better off with him.

9. The Lost Dog in Switzerland

While in Switzerland, we had a near-disaster with Old Yeller, who was renamed “Vieille Jaune” by Cousin Claudia. He disappeared in a Co-op market parking lot, but thankfully, Claudia was able to explain the situation in French, and the staff found him.

10. Ski Lessons in Davos

When we went to Davos for a week, I signed Stacy up for her first ski lessons. The instructors only spoke to her in English, and she felt left out. I explained that the other kids were likely being instructed in Swiss German, French, or Italian.

11. A Southern Accent

During our year in Louisville, Kentucky, Stacy quickly developed a southern accent. She was just five years old and could jump off the high dive at the swimming pool.

12. The Model Student

Stacy was generally a model student, but at a parent-teacher conference, her first-grade teacher expressed concern about her being too studious. “Does she have any friends?” she asked. I assured her that Stacy enjoyed playing with friends after school.

13. A Loving Sister

Stacy was a sweet and loving older sister to her younger brother, Benjy. He requested to be called Ben when he entered kindergarten, just two and a half years younger than her.

14. The Bike Incident

One weekend in the spring of Stacy’s first-grade year, she tried out a friend’s two-wheel bicycle. She lost control and collided with a garage, resulting in scrapes. When she returned to school, her teacher asked if she had fallen off a bike.

15. Extracurricular Activities

Stacy loved extracurricular activities like gymnastics, ice skating, and Girl Scouts. When our neighbors joined a local swim team, she wanted to join too. However, as a busy working mom, I had to deny her request.

16. A Comment on Looks

While watching Stacy’s gymnastics, another mother approached me and said, “She’s so pretty, but she doesn’t look at all like you.” I was taken aback by her comment and the implication behind it.

17. The Name Stacy

I chose the name Stacy because I liked it and wanted something recognizable. I was surprised to learn that kids teased her by calling her “Spacey Jupiter.” I also didn’t realize how often people would misspell her name.

18. The Lice Incident

One day, I discovered that Ben had lice during a haircut. I was mortified, especially since Stacy had likely been exposed too. The battle against lice was long and frustrating, but we eventually managed to rid ourselves of them.

19. Figure Skating

Stacy became heavily involved in figure skating at the age of six. We loved attending her year-end performances, but tying her skates was often a challenge. When she progressed to private lessons, I was shocked by the cost of quality skates.

20. Family Ski Trips

Our family began skiing in the 1980s. Stacy caught on quickly during our first ski trip to Loon Mountain, New Hampshire, and continued to improve as we skied often together.

21. The Pet Mice

When Stacy turned ten, she asked for pet mice for her birthday. I was surprised but agreed, and she came home with three female mice. Eventually, the tank got smelly, and after several births, we had to find a new home for them.

22. A Well-Traveled Child

At 11, during a parents' night, Stacy wrote, “I’ve traveled to more places than anyone I know.” By that age, she had visited numerous states and countries, including Mexico and Switzerland.

23. The Grand Canyon Adventure

During a family trip to the Grand Canyon, Stacy woke up sick the morning of our mule ride. I gave her an antihistamine, forgetting it could cause drowsiness. Thankfully, she stayed awake during the ride, despite my attempts to keep her engaged with silly songs.

24. The Mural

When Stacy was about 12, she painted a mural of a rainforest on her bedroom wall. It was a delightful representation of her artistic talent and remained until we sold the house in 1997.

25. The Bat Mitzvah

For Stacy’s bat mitzvah at 13, we celebrated with local friends and family. She excelled at the service, and Jesse gave a heartfelt speech referencing Cindy Lauper’s song "True Colors." It was a joyous occasion filled with love and laughter.

As I wrap up this tribute, I realize that I have only shared 25 memories. This post has become quite lengthy, so I will label it #50A. I hope you won’t have to wait long for the conclusion in Post #50B.

Stay tuned for more of my reminiscences from Stacy’s youth and pre-maternal life. I promise it will be worth the wait!