Day 11 – A deceased person you wish you could talk

Dear Grandma (Grant),

How are you doing?

I just want to say thank-you for all the fun memories. You may have been in your 70’s but you still acted like you were youthful.  I’m so glad I convinced you to join the senior citizens and you actually took my advice.  I was so humbled when you first told me you not only attended, but had a great time.  You used to play ‘500’ with all the other oldies and I even had to laugh when I found out you were ripping people with with the charity raffles by holding the money all to yourself haha.

Thank-you so much for the interest-free personal loan on my 2nd car (which I still drive to this day).  I know it’s a heap of crap, but it gets me around, and I’m thankful of you to offer me that money upfront.  I paid every single cent of it back, and was amazed at how quickly it took to pay it off.  It was a $2000 loan and I just paid $200 over 10 months, and walluh, all gone.  Not having to pay interest was so much easier for me.

I want to know how you’re doing, and what you’re doing.  I cried at your funeral, unable to hold back to tears when they played Frank Sinatra’s "My Way".  As much as I hate Frank Sinatra for other reasons than his music, the fact that was one of your favourite songs touched me.

You held on for many years, bespite mum telling me years beforehand that she didn’t think you were gunna make it.  I can’t even count the amount of times you were in and out of hospital.  Christmas 2008 would have been the last time I saw you, upright and walking around, and you were still you – always having a story about Dusty, your loyal pet dog who completely revolutionised your life for the better.  She was a brilliant dog.

Thankyou for always letting me stay at your place after school until mum finished work to take me and my little brother home.  You always had red cordial and biccies for us, everytime without fail.  Thank-you for laughing along with me during episodes of ‘Keeping Up Appearances.’  I still watch my boxset of that here at home and think of you.  That, and playing a game of cards (which you never said ‘no’ to) are my favourite memories of you.

You never knew I was gay, I was told never to tell you, but you probably sensed it.  I dunno.  it probably wasn’t even thought about back in your day, maybe it didn’t even cross your mind.

When i got the call to come and say goodbye to you, I left Sydney on the first flight I could find, as I was holidaying at the time.  I’m really glad I got to see you breathe your last breaths before you took off to the next life.

I love you grandma.  Gone but never forgotten.

-love Matt