Hampshire County
Community Story Archive
Sharing Stories, Creating Change
NAN
Nan Clark is a 94-year-old long-time resident of Chesterfield, MA, She grew up in Northampton and studied radio at Emerson College. She is a life-long learner with a great sense of humor. She has a special place in her heart for her family and all of nature. Nan embodies a wealth of life experience and appreciation of how food enhances health and the quality of life.
“It's so interesting to talk about food because all families start by gathering around the food table, in every place in the world.”
Check out some interview excerpts below:
“I think God doesn't want me yet. So I'm still here. I've already survived cancer, and then I survived the pandemic… I wondered then why am I still here? There has to be a reason. I began to say…I'm here to learn something that I didn't know before…
"Right during the COVID George Floyd was murdered and I was so appalled. … I went to my wonderful librarian Cindy and I said I have to understand my white privilege, which I know I have, but I don't understand it…I want to know - what should I be reading.”
“The thing that I've learned over the years [since] I was a little child is that we’re connected with all the animals in the world and the trees and every living thing. We're not better than: we're the same as. We might look different, we might eat different things but we're still all connected.”
“I know suddenly when I wake up it's a lonely day. I need to reach out. I know that it's important to reach out when you feel these things and a lot of seniors don't do that.”