Nana Biography

I didn’t plan ahead, and, I think kids nowadays do plan ahead, but I didn’t. I just assumed everything would turn out all right. And I sort of assumed I was going to marry at the time, and then when I had this marvelous opportunity to come to California and I met Don, All of a sudden was available.

It felt like escape.

Yes, sure. It felt like it was just terrific. He was a glamorous figure, he lived in California, and that was the land of plenty, and I could get away from the whole scene.

So it must’ve been in someways oppressive, this scene.

No, not really, but I, I think, as I was beginning to turn 20, that I got a little nervous about what was going to happen to me. You know, a girl, then, you get married, that’s the end of it. The boy was not ready to be married at the time, although I know he wanted to marry me, he couldn’t afford it, he was still in law school, and I was ready to make my move. I didn’t want to stay around or anything. Anyway, this was a great opportunity and also I thought I was in love with Don.

Let me tell you that, when the marriage was taking place, when I finally said, “yes, “and all the bridesmaids and all the ushers came, and his family came, I didn’t have a feeling of ease. I was really nervous, I was really feeling, as I look back on it, more the glamour of it than the love of that person. And, I would say that I wasn’t capable of loving at that time, I don’t know. I don’t think either of us were, had the feelings about each other that most people do when they get married. And maybe it was just that we were both immature and kids, and everything sort of fell into our laps.

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