A beautiful baby girl was born in August of 1938. She was born in Baltimore at a hospital. Her name was Erma Ruth Bentrup. I better know her as Nana, my mother’s mom.
     Nana grew up in Highlandtown, Baltimore. Her normal schedule was school, homework, and a little bit of TV. As a child Nana had a dog named Susie, was a white stitz. When she wasn’t playing with Susie, Nana would be biking or sewing. She was a very good child and never played a prank. Nana says ”I was a very lucky girl for not having to go to the hospital for an injury.”
     Just like most kids Nana loved going to the corner store for soda with friends, even though they didn’t have a mall. During school Nana went to a couple school dances, Nana always danced. Her favorite dance was the jitterbug. Just like we can’t now, Nana wasn’t able to wear belly shirts in or out of school. Kids can wear pants but Nana couldn’t. The style was poodle skirts and saddle shoes. My Nana, like most kids, had a favorite teacher, her 6th grade teacher Ms. Evans. Nana wasn’t very interested in boys, but she had a boy friend at the end of school.
    Normally Nana had to keep her room clean and help with the dishes as part of everyday life. She lived with Carrie, mom and John, dad. Nana also has a brother named Clifton but everyone calls him Dick. Also, around the time when my Nana went to school the only electronics were a radio and TV. Nana lived in 9 row houses and 1 single house.  Nana went to school #230 for elementary and middle school. For high school she went to Patterson Park., but, Nana never went to college.
    In 1956 Nana’s name was changed to Erma Brown. She and Clayton Brown had a small wedding. They had two kids named Debbie and Steve. They went to the same school, #230. Until 1960 Nana was Erma Brown, that year she became Erma Good. During that marriage Nana had two more kids, David and Carol. Only David went to school #230. Nana quotes, "My kids were always good, they knew their punishment well.” A while later Nana married Bernard Johnson, which was in 1983. Through Nana’s life she worked at an office, a fabric store, 2 sewing factories, and does alterations now.. Nana likes to sew, bike, and camp. Her favorite foods are desserts and spaghetti. Also, Nana always wanted to water ski but she has another thought of that now. One week last year our family and Nana went to Colorado. Nana was so excited to ski. It turns out she was barely able to make it down the hill because of high altitude making hard to breathe and it was too hard on her legs.
    I have many memories of Nana and me. “ I’ll always love having the generations of my family around” Nana quotes. One is walking or biking to the park. Also, I remember getting into the candy cabinet. When I was younger Nana would let us make a dress out of safety pins and scrap cloth. My dad says, “ Nana is the best Nana a kid could ever have. I love my Nana very much and will always remember our good times.