Saturday 16 January 2010

Dear Nana...

Today I visited Nana's grave for the first time since her funeral at the end of March '09. It has taken until now for the site to become a comfortable place to visit, with a proper headstone and the mound of earth transformed into an area of peace. Her grave is tucked away from the main part of the cemetary which adds to the feeling of peace. I shall probably be a regular visitor there so I went, today, with Mum to see how it is and to go through some rules of etiquette... after all, it is quite a delicate situation and I wouldn't want to cause offense if I was to bring some flowers and then not come back for a while and then another relative might come and be annoyed that I hadn't cleared away the dead flowers. Also, my littlies may want to make some of their own floral tributes to leave there and what if that somehow involved Indiana Jones? Well, I have to think of these things and Mum and I talked over what would be appropriate and what wouldn't and maybe Indiana might just keep outof this. And if he really has to be there, to keep it subtle! Definitely no light sabres, though.

I was going to write a bit about my Nana, but I think I'll save it for her anniversary. A brief introduction for now... she died, as I said, last March at he grand 'ol age of 97 (very nearly 98!). My Mum's Mum. Came from Ireland. Made me laugh. There was more to her than met the eye. XXXX
Miss you lots XXXX

2 comments:

  1. I really can't relate to loosing a Nana because I was never fotunate enough to have one! Although I have adopted several along the way! I have lost my Dad though 12 years ago. We flew him to England and scattered him in the sea at Dymchurch and I painted a rock in his memory of a cottage and my nephew threw it in the sea.My son was 7 at the time and he still has his 'Grand dad' box which is full of drawings he made for grand dad after his death and all sorts of crafts and messages. I guess what I am trying to say is that after someone dies everyone has their own way of dealing with things and have little traditions. After we have a pet die, my daughter writes a letter to them and we bury them in a blanket with some food and a letter and we will often paint rocks to put on top of the grave. It sure helps to have a place of memorial at home in the garden.

    98 years old is quite an age!! I do not know anyone that old and I work in a retirement home!

    I find grave yards very tranquil and when I come back to England I like to walk around them. It is good you have a quiet corner to do your remembering!

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  2. Thank you for your comments. I liked reading about your Dad and your idea of painting pebbles. I've been to Dymchurch a few times and used to work in Hythe. Yes, Nana made it to a good age - that's why we called her Supernana! Supergrandad is still alive. Slightly younger but I think he's 95 next month.

    The snow has mostly gone in our area now and the family are much better except for my husband who admitted defeat this morning and got himself off to the doc's for some antibiotics. It's probably good that the weather forced us into quarantine so the bug couldn't be passed on to anyone else.

    I was wondering if you have a blog?

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