Pocahontas, Nana, and Me: A Journey Through Time and Love

For at most a decade, it was just Nana and me. Eben hadn’t been born yet, and in those early years, my world revolved around the simple joys of childhood—TV shows, cassette tapes, and long afternoons spent in front of the screen.

Sesame Street, Rugrats, Dexter’s Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls, Cow and Chicken—these weren’t just cartoons; they were the backdrop of our shared experiences. Even after Nana was diagnosed, these shows remained a silent bond between us. We didn’t always interact, but we always sat together, eyes fixed on the screen. I’d glance at him occasionally—watching him watch. He’d hum or sing along to the theme songs, sometimes zoning in and out when his hyperactivity took over.

But there was one movie—one singular, unshakable favorite—that held his attention from start to finish every single time: Pocahontas. I don’t why or how but that’s just his favorite.

A Household Staple

Pocahontas wasn’t just a movie in our home—it was a necessity, because if for some reason he hadn’t watched it in some days, he would constantly ask for it. It was the one thing that calmed Nana, the one thing he fully immersed himself in. He would recite lines, sing all the songs word for word—though in his own version of the lyrics. If a cassette or DVD stopped working, my mother would make it her mission to find another copy, even if it came as part of a random collection of animated films.

I remember a time when we couldn’t find it anywhere—no cassette, no DVD, nothing. Panic set in. I searched desperately and eventually found a low-quality version on YouTube. It was grainy, the sound was off, but none of that mattered. As soon as Nana saw it, the relief on his face was all I needed to know—I had done something right. I had found the one thing I could control when it came to making him happy.

The Many Layers of Being Nana’s Sister

Being Nana’s sister comes with a mix of emotions—some expected, others unpredictable.I am sure Eben experiences this too, in his own way of course.

There are days when I ask “why?” over and over again.

Why him?

Why us?

Why is life designed this way?

Other days, I simply accept our reality. And then there are moments when I marvel at how far he has come—at how he continues to exist in his own unique way, untouched by the worries that consume the rest of us.

I often tell myself I need to learn more—to understand, to help, to be better for him. Some days I succeed-with the help of someone very close to me. Other days, I fall short. And that’s okay.

But what I’ve come to realise is that this journey isn’t about figuring everything out. It’s about embracing the emotions as they come, when they come. It’s about knowing that some things—like a well-loved cartoon movie—will always hold meaning beyond what we can explain as siblings.

Nana still watches Pocahontas today. The moment I signed into the Disney Plus app on my ipad, it was the first movie I downloaded. Instinctively, it just made sense to have it so any time I am home he can have access to it. Every time I heard those familiar songs(when i was living at home), I thought of all the years we’ve shared, sitting side by side, lost in a world that belonged to just the two of us, and now Eben’s also.