Late entry: Nana Burt
Hey there, minna-san, how are you? Good? I hope so...
I know I said I was going to make this entry yesterday, but I was at my great-aunt's house all day yesterday.
Here are some of my memories of Nana Burt...
I remember back when I was a little kid, every Sunday we would go to visit her flat in Golden Square. Sometimes Mum came too, other times, it was just Pa and I. Then, Jason was born. Mum came with us when Jason was still a baby, and sometimes after that.
There was a time we had a photo taken in the small garden near the flat. Jason and I had our photo taken with Pa, Jason was crying the whole time (even when Mum took the photo), whereas when we had the photo taken with Nana, Jason was very happy.
One year, Mum, Pa, Nana, Jason and I took a trip to Echuca to spend a day at the Murray River. Nana and Mum stayed on the bank, while Pa, Jason and I did a little bit of swimming (we were in an area where it was safe to swim otherwise that would be a no-go).
Sundays weren't the only days we visited Nana as we got older. We also went for birthdays (no matter whose it was) or even if we were just in the area, we would stop by to say hello. Nana always had lemonade and chocolate buds for Jason and I to have while we were there.
It was early-1996 when Nana first had a fall and broke her hip. We went up to the hospital to see her everyday after school and on Saturdays to spend some time with her. Soon, she was released, but again, had a fall and broke her hip again.
It was during that time Mum was also in hospital a lot, so Mum would also go to visit Nana, sometimes with us, sometimes just throughout the day to keep her company.
One night, we were about to go to the hospital, but after Pa heard from Aunt Wendy about Nana's condition, Pa and Dad went up to the hospital, leaving Jason and I home with Mum. We wanted to go see her too, but we were told it would be best for us not to. That was October 21, 1996.
The next morning, Mum told us Nana had passed away the night before. Jason cried, I was in shock. All those times we went to visit her, she didn't look sick...at least in my eyes. I knew she was an elderly woman, but I never expected her to pass on during that time. Then again, I didn't realise just what her age was at the time. She was 87 years old when she passed away, and that came as another shock to me.
Nana allowed me to have some of her jewelery. I only ever wore a couple of the necklaces, leaving the bracelets, rings and brooches in their jewelery boxes, not wanting to lose any of them. There were times I would have a look at the jewelery, and sometimes I would remember when I had seen her wearing it, whether it was a pearl necklace she wore all the time, or a brooch she wore when attending a family dinner.
These days when we drive past the flats in Golden Square, I look out the window and think about the times we went to visit her.
Oh yes, I should've mentioned this sooner...Nana Burt is Dad's grandmother, Pa's mother.
Well, that's my entry. I can't believe she would've been 100 yesterday, that's amazing to me...
That's all for now, minna-san. Ja ne!
I know I said I was going to make this entry yesterday, but I was at my great-aunt's house all day yesterday.
Here are some of my memories of Nana Burt...
I remember back when I was a little kid, every Sunday we would go to visit her flat in Golden Square. Sometimes Mum came too, other times, it was just Pa and I. Then, Jason was born. Mum came with us when Jason was still a baby, and sometimes after that.
There was a time we had a photo taken in the small garden near the flat. Jason and I had our photo taken with Pa, Jason was crying the whole time (even when Mum took the photo), whereas when we had the photo taken with Nana, Jason was very happy.
One year, Mum, Pa, Nana, Jason and I took a trip to Echuca to spend a day at the Murray River. Nana and Mum stayed on the bank, while Pa, Jason and I did a little bit of swimming (we were in an area where it was safe to swim otherwise that would be a no-go).
Sundays weren't the only days we visited Nana as we got older. We also went for birthdays (no matter whose it was) or even if we were just in the area, we would stop by to say hello. Nana always had lemonade and chocolate buds for Jason and I to have while we were there.
It was early-1996 when Nana first had a fall and broke her hip. We went up to the hospital to see her everyday after school and on Saturdays to spend some time with her. Soon, she was released, but again, had a fall and broke her hip again.
It was during that time Mum was also in hospital a lot, so Mum would also go to visit Nana, sometimes with us, sometimes just throughout the day to keep her company.
One night, we were about to go to the hospital, but after Pa heard from Aunt Wendy about Nana's condition, Pa and Dad went up to the hospital, leaving Jason and I home with Mum. We wanted to go see her too, but we were told it would be best for us not to. That was October 21, 1996.
The next morning, Mum told us Nana had passed away the night before. Jason cried, I was in shock. All those times we went to visit her, she didn't look sick...at least in my eyes. I knew she was an elderly woman, but I never expected her to pass on during that time. Then again, I didn't realise just what her age was at the time. She was 87 years old when she passed away, and that came as another shock to me.
Nana allowed me to have some of her jewelery. I only ever wore a couple of the necklaces, leaving the bracelets, rings and brooches in their jewelery boxes, not wanting to lose any of them. There were times I would have a look at the jewelery, and sometimes I would remember when I had seen her wearing it, whether it was a pearl necklace she wore all the time, or a brooch she wore when attending a family dinner.
These days when we drive past the flats in Golden Square, I look out the window and think about the times we went to visit her.
Oh yes, I should've mentioned this sooner...Nana Burt is Dad's grandmother, Pa's mother.
Well, that's my entry. I can't believe she would've been 100 yesterday, that's amazing to me...
That's all for now, minna-san. Ja ne!