Three Years Ago Today....

Craig with Mia and Grandma

Three years ago today my family were gearing up for a huge celebration. We were celebrating my brothers twin's 1st birthday party. It was a rare occasion where my whole family came together on the one weekend to celebrate and I was really looking forward to it.

It was also a sad day. One that I will never forget. It was the day that my grandmother passed away suddenly.

We had all got into our cars from our homes and were travelling down the hume highway to cataract dam where the picnic celebration was to be held when my phone rang. It was my mum....."Don't worry she said. I wan't you to keep going to the party for your brother, but I have sad news...we think that Grandma has died". I could not believe my ears. I distinctly remember yelling 'WHAT'?!!! in my mothers ear down the phone....what do you mean you 'think'?...what do you mean she has 'died'?!!....

The story goes that my aunty and uncle had gone to pick grandma up for the party and when she didn't answer the door to her village apartment they got concerned. They could hear the airconditioner on so they knew that she was in there. The got someone who had a master key (which took a while) and they were able to open the door and unfortunately Grandma had passed they think the afternoon before. She had a packet mix of cupcakes on the kitchen bench which she was going to make for the party. She was dressed in her nighty and ready for a quiet evening....She had been at the computer playing solitaire when they think she had a massive stroke and died instantly.

Everyone was in shock. Everyone couldn't believe it. We are such a close family and this was the first person to die in our family since before I was born.

The best thing is that my family are 'together'. We care deeply for eachother and we have  an amazing bond. Grandma totally sorted out the day for us....God knew it was her time and he planned it amazingly. we were all together, we were all supporting one another. We were united.

I was amazed how my brother even got through the birthday speech. Obviously no one felt like celebrating, but it was the twins party and we were going to honour them with a good one. My heart chocked when my brother broke down at the beginning of his speech. It would have been so hard.

So today I remember my grandmother, Mary Alice Gannell. I love you and I miss you and I know that you are up in heaven watching down on us and proud of the family we have become. xxxxx