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Friday 15 October 2010

We miss you

As this scheduled post goes live at about 8am this Friday 15 October I am in the air flying home to spend the weekend with my family and also to be marking the very sad one year anniversary since my grandfather passed away.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  It was a Thursday night a year ago and I'd just come home from work when dad called me.  My grandmother called my dad and said that my grandfather wanted to speak to him as he felt like he was about to pass away.  Which he did while my dad was on the phone... he passed away at home, on the coach while watching Novak Djokovic play a tennis match!  Watching TV and reading books was his favourite thing to do since dad can remember.  He was a few months away from his 75th birthday.

He had never been sick, never spent a day in hospital, never taken any medication.  He'd lived a full life.  Always worked to live, not lived to work.  Always carefree, taking trips to Paris to visit his cousin every chance he got.  Spending his money on the things that made him happy, as he always said that it didn't matter, the next payday wasn't far away.  He was a bit of a free spirit who found it hard to commit to something... About 15 years my family lost everything and as we left for Australia, my grandparents, then in their 60's started again.  My grandfather worked, bought a farm and built an extension on the house.  He hated depending on anyone.  He shaved every day and demanded to wear a clean, crisply ironed shirt each morning.  He and my grandmother were married for 51 years, had 3 sons and 2 grandchildren.  He tried to hold on to see my brother who planned to visit in a few months after finishing school, but he didn't make it... He hadn't seen my brother since he was a little boy in 2001, but I was blessed to spend a long winter in 2005 with him and a few short summer days in 2008.  And of course the first 12 years of my life.  Going to their farm was the best part of being a kid - doing whatever I wanted... chasing chickens... and even riding on the donkey because I was tired while my grandparents carried the wood for the fire on their backs!



3 generations - myself, dad & djed in 1985


My grandparents in 2008.  He didn't have a grey hair in sight but the lines on his face told a million stories.  I don't fear aging if I can age like that!

9 comments:

  1. Hope you and your family have a nice day remembering.

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  2. Have a wonderful weekend with the family in Brisbane... what a wonderful insight into your life - your grandfather seemed such a lovely and warm hearted man - you must all miss him. x

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  3. aw, enjoy your time with your family and remembering him. He sounds like he was an incredible person

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  4. I am so sorry to hear about your grandfather.

    I know he will be at peace where he is now. The only comforting thing I can say is that he didn't suffer though the pain for those he left behind will never go away.

    Take care and lots of love,

    SSG xxx

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  5. Oh M. This makes me sad because I know how difficult it must be for you and your family. It's also inspiring to read about a free spirit who lived his life on his own terms and was able to be so present in his own life that he knew when it was about to end here on earth.

    Wishing you a peaceful time with your family this weekend. Thinking about you. xoxo - Carrie

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  6. Hope you are enjoying a bit of a break and breather away from everyday life... and where better to do that than home sweet home!

    Your grandfather sounds like such a passionate man! I love your photos! :)

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  7. Sad but lovely tribute. The death of grandparents is always so sad because it means the end of an era. And the loss of someone who loved you unconditionally from birth. x

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  8. Thank you all so much for your sweet comments! Means a lot to me xo

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  9. It's hard being so far away from the ones we love:( Hope you had a nice time with your family!

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