Saturday, October 27, 2007

A year without Nan-ma

The 26th marked one year since my grandma lost her two and a half year battle with cancer.

On Friday, I stood on the river bank in Zurich and thought about her.

How happy she would've been with me travelling - seeing the world and experiencing all she'd talked to me about in excited tones first hand.

How she would be absolutely champing at the bit to see my pictures (and very probably the ONLY person who would look at EVERY picture with more than a cursory glance!).

How she would be quietly boasting to her Gir! Guide posse about my most recent career achievements.

How proud she would be of me, generally - of how far I've come and how much I've changed from that scared young woman who boarded a plane for Saudi Arabia headed into the unknown.

I loved her for what she inspired me to do. I loved her for her wisdom. I loved her for her utter belief in me. I loved her cause she was my Nan-ma. I will always love her and think of her often.

I will never be able to read an article about Gir! Guides (unbelievably, there was an article in the Metr* today that stated that 2/3 of successful career women were either a Brown!e or Gir! Guide when they were younger. Grandma loved to spout it's virtues!) or listen to Michael Buble without thinking of my grandma.

Here's to you Nan-ma.

PS. I'm learning Mah-jong in your honour
PPS. I'm still pretty crap though!

2 comments:

Bunny said...

Hi Dee, thanks for your comments. I hear you too, and your Nan-ma sounds like someone I would have gotten along with. I loved Gir! Guides! (Not sure why you are doing it with a '!' but I will continue the theme!)
Time goes so fast doesnt it and this death thing is so totally unnatural to us even though we are surrounded by it. Ever want to chat, I'm here for you too. hun.
Bunny
xxx

Reney said...

Dee,

What an amazing blog you have and I want to applaud you for putting your story out there and telling it like it is.

You are an amazing writer and I am addicted to your blog.

You are truly my inspiration and I hope I get to loo as fantastic as you do!

Reney