Grandad
My Grandad passed away on Saturday, 24th April.
I don't have one memory where I have been annoyed or irritated with him, I have been sad but most of my memories with him are so happy.
When I was 8, he and Dad took me to my first football game at Kardinia Park. It was Geelong vs Port Adelaide, and Geelong won. At half time he bought me my first Geelong scarf and at 3-quarter time he bought me a kit kat. He let me wave not only my flag but his and even let me wave the flag all the way back to the car as I bounced along. On my birthday I got the scarf and another kit kat. Because of him, I am so passionate about Geelong.
Whenever I saw my Grandad, he was happy to see me. Even if he couldn't get up out of the chair, he would be happy to see me and make me feel so loved.
Just before I went to France, I had lunch at his place. He told the other people there every one of my achievements that he could remember - some of them even I didn't remember anymore. He remembered everything I told him.
Even when my other grandparents irritated me, I never felt annoyed with him. I would look forward to seeing him each time.
I had a sleepover at his place when I was very young, and he bought a packet of textas for me to draw pictures with. Of course I got ink all over my hands and he spent ages trying to get it off. He let me look at all the treasures in his study and eat his diabetics lollies. He kept coming to the football with us even when Dad insisted that he came in a wheelchair.
He was a person I always hoped I would introduce my future husband to.
I think he would do anything to make people happy. He would give my aunts money when they flew to Melbourne to pay for the air fare. He would let me come to see him at dialysis, and even wake up to talk to me if I came in the middle of a nap. He spoke often about how good everybody was to him, when it was him being good to everybody else.
He hated making a fuss. He hated hospitals and doctors and he hated his children going away on holidays. He hated anyone having to change plans to accomodate him.
He was good in a way that didn't involve money and material possessions - he gave in kindness, generosity and a genuine interest for everyone around him.
At the funeral, my relatives from all over the country came together to commemorate his life. For the first time in a long time, everybody was together. I think that is the perfect way for us to have celebrate Grandad- to bring people together through love and compassion. He hated a fuss, but I think he would've liked us all being there together to remember him.
I loved, and love, him very much. He was an extraordinary man and a fantastic grandad. There is alot I'd like to write, but in the end, its just a feeling about a wonderful man that I wish didn't have to go.
I don't have one memory where I have been annoyed or irritated with him, I have been sad but most of my memories with him are so happy.
When I was 8, he and Dad took me to my first football game at Kardinia Park. It was Geelong vs Port Adelaide, and Geelong won. At half time he bought me my first Geelong scarf and at 3-quarter time he bought me a kit kat. He let me wave not only my flag but his and even let me wave the flag all the way back to the car as I bounced along. On my birthday I got the scarf and another kit kat. Because of him, I am so passionate about Geelong.
Whenever I saw my Grandad, he was happy to see me. Even if he couldn't get up out of the chair, he would be happy to see me and make me feel so loved.
Just before I went to France, I had lunch at his place. He told the other people there every one of my achievements that he could remember - some of them even I didn't remember anymore. He remembered everything I told him.
Even when my other grandparents irritated me, I never felt annoyed with him. I would look forward to seeing him each time.
I had a sleepover at his place when I was very young, and he bought a packet of textas for me to draw pictures with. Of course I got ink all over my hands and he spent ages trying to get it off. He let me look at all the treasures in his study and eat his diabetics lollies. He kept coming to the football with us even when Dad insisted that he came in a wheelchair.
He was a person I always hoped I would introduce my future husband to.
I think he would do anything to make people happy. He would give my aunts money when they flew to Melbourne to pay for the air fare. He would let me come to see him at dialysis, and even wake up to talk to me if I came in the middle of a nap. He spoke often about how good everybody was to him, when it was him being good to everybody else.
He hated making a fuss. He hated hospitals and doctors and he hated his children going away on holidays. He hated anyone having to change plans to accomodate him.
He was good in a way that didn't involve money and material possessions - he gave in kindness, generosity and a genuine interest for everyone around him.
At the funeral, my relatives from all over the country came together to commemorate his life. For the first time in a long time, everybody was together. I think that is the perfect way for us to have celebrate Grandad- to bring people together through love and compassion. He hated a fuss, but I think he would've liked us all being there together to remember him.
I loved, and love, him very much. He was an extraordinary man and a fantastic grandad. There is alot I'd like to write, but in the end, its just a feeling about a wonderful man that I wish didn't have to go.