Memories

Hi there

The last week has been a pretty low one. My wonderful gran died on the 15 October. Life just carries on and you want to shout from the tree tops to stop and share how wonderful she was to everyone. I truly loved her so much. Never was there a day when she was too busy to talk to me. I miss  our chats.

Kate and I have spent so many of our childhood years at my grandparents house. Every weekend when we were at boarding school. Boy there were lots of tears for her to wipe in those days. I hated been so far away from home. Then when we were in high school we used to cycle to my grans house after school and stay there till my dad finished work. We ate provita and cheese spread like there was no tomorrow. Also loved drinking my grandfathers coke and always snuck in an extra two or three glasses of coke. I bet she knew but never once said anything. I really loved my gran so much.

Technology played a huge rule in our lives right up till the end. How lucky was I to join my grans facebook page at 80 years old. Pretty cool if you ask me. Never too old to get with it. We skyped each other everyday until she went into hospice. I still get this warm feeling ever now and again that she is touching me and checking I am OK. Its hard writing this email as the tears fall. Thank goodness for the school bus I don't have to step into the playground with my red blotchy face.

My mom said the funeral was very special. My gran played a huge roll in so many families lives. She has done 64 funerals which was why she was so practical and straight forward about the whole process. She had been going to the same church for 30 years.

My grandfather is now living with Kate and Jaco. I feel quite lazy been so far away because I have done nothing to help in any way. He is settling down nicely and getting used to life in a house full of children. Once again never too old to adjust and fit in.

I have basically been coasting with no emotion lately and doing what needs to be done. Leon would look at me and say come on Heather smile dammit all is not so bad!

Victoria is at home with me as she is on antibiotics and has strep throat. The joys.

I had a look at some of the information that was given to us when we moved to try help us settle after arriving in the USA and the whole move process was translated so nicely. The first stage of moving country starts with the ENDINGS, which is fear, shock, anxiety and confusion. All our reactions to change. Done that big time. We ran around like mad people getting everything sorted. All the last goodbyes.

The next stage is the NEUTRAL ZONE, where you feel in limbo, miss familiar surroundings and have not yet formed roots. The neural zone provides rejuvenation and self examination. To be perfectly honest this character building nonsense is getting a bit boring now. I think, even if I say so myself I am fairly OK!!!!!!!! Jokes aside, hopefully we should all start discovering new talents and passions and get off the moan chair and tackle the US of A. This moving country is quite hard.

The final stage is BEGINNINGS , where you make an effort to meet people, join groups, feel part of the community. Best this stage hurry up now.

The weather has been such a blessing. I carry on and on about seeing the sun everyday. We are at the end of October and the doors are open with the sun streaming in. The colours of the leaves are stunning. Ever orange colour your mind can think of we have it. The whole of Westport is in a glow of reds and oranges. Add it to the list of travel to come see The Fall. Halloween soon. The houses are decorated with evil horrible things. You know me and my skulls thing, no evil goodies in our house. We have George who is a scarecrow, dressed in pink hanging from the tree in our front garden. The kids wanted to buy decorations. Leon was away thank goodness or else he would have shopped till he dropped with Kara and Victoria getting him to buy everything Halloween. Mommy style we don't buy it we make it. The kids have made a fire with blood splotches????, spiders, carved pumpkins and we are happy. Poor George is looking a bit tired.

Tomorrow we walk down to the town hall to gets CANDYYYYYY from all the shops. Friday the kids wear the costumes to school and Sunday they hit the streets. We have been told the kids get so much sweets they can't eat it all. The doctors rooms are trading CANDYYYYY for a toy. Last year they posted 400 pounds of candy to the Iraq troops. We will for sure be getting rid of some sweets.

Miss you all. Think about you all lots.

Love heather