Time After Time

one of my clearest memories of MY NANI is watching her wind her watch.

it was always the second to last thing she did before leaving the house.  she’d stand at the dining room table, slip her rings on her fingers and wind her watch – before handing the dog a treat and walking out the door.  and when coming home after running errands, after putting down her small neiman’s bag that held her extra pair of glasses, the front page of the new york times and a couple dozen on-going lists, she’d remove her watch, ring and shoes before scurrying to the bathroom.

over the years, i had gone with my nani many times to cartier in beverly hills to have her watch repaired.  to have the face cleaned.  to get a new band.  she would stuff her humongous black bag with bottles of cartier water and handfuls of cartier mints before urging me to do the same.

i went downtown a few weeks ago to order a new band (my nani’s old band had all but disintegrated).  i took time to blow dry my hair, i wore a dress with a waist and shoes that had no scuffs.  i was disappointed to find no bottled water and no mints.  life really will never be the same.