Love is… goose bumps
I digress… I hope you’ll forgive me.
I came across this beautiful Vimeo today called LOVE by Jason Silva, a young Venezuelan-American filmmaker. He describes love as “something you want to stretch on forever”… that it is like “goose bumps”.
This month would have been my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary. They had 8 children and 25 grandchildren. Nana was a strong woman with a massive twinkle in her eye. I think she had a secret passion for travel… the St Christopher she gave me is one of my most treasured possessions. She baked me afghans when I visited her. Every time.
I adored both my grandparents.
Grandad suffered for many years with cancer and I wonder whether Nana had prepared herself to perhaps be the partner left behind. She had started to go on short trips with her girlfriends.
It was a massive shock when she died suddenly of a heart attack a few months short of their 50th wedding anniversary. I was devastated. It is still too ghastly to think about.
My enormous extended family was quite well-known in the catholic community in a New Zealand town and seven priests attended and participated in Nana’s funeral. The church was packed. I felt enormously proud that so many people loved her.
At the end of the service, a priest asked if anyone wanted to speak and an elderly woman rose. She introduced herself as Nana’s roommate on their trips away. She told how Nana’s favourite part of her trip was to find three chocolates that my grandfather always hid in her suitcase. Apparently, it was a ritual, not just while travelling, but in their marriage too.
As Nana’s friend walked away from the lectern, she stopped to embrace my grandfather. He reached into his pocket, pulled out three chocolates and placed them in her hand.
That, to me, is love…
For Eileen and Cliff xx
What does love mean to you?
Nana and Pappa in Ireland
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Nice one darl.
Thanks Pedro!
Nawww Kir, tis beautiful memory, just in time for Nana’s birthday too huh
XXOXOXOXX
Ah yup. It is too… Wish was here to celebrate. We’ll have a toast in March, no doubt. Aren’t we lucky to have the family we have?!
I can sympathize with Donza, I’ve got tears streaming down my face as I type my response. You had me remembering my own grandparents.
My grandparents were married for 64 years. I returned from my honeymoon only to learn that my granddad had had a stroke. He was 90 years old. He passed away three days after my birthday because I told him I’d never forgive him if he died on that day.
My grandparents loved each other but they bickered a LOT… We would all get a good laugh from them, they were really funny. Once my granddad passed away we all started to worry about my grandmother. They had been married for 64 years and had never been apart. Each grandkid took turns spending the weekend with her so she wouldn’t feel so alone. It didn’t help, she passed away three months later from a broken heart. Neither of them were ill before any of this happened either. Love comes in many forms Kirsten. At least they’re together now.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful story and my heart breaks for your granddad.
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Eeeeek! I made everyone cry! 64 years?? That is so amazing, Adrienne. Hasn’t the world of relationships changed so much? I’m sorry to hear about your grandfather too. It sounds like he loved you so much to hang on until after your birthday. My grandad eventually died of a broken heart, I’m sure. He was never the same. I reckon they’re all in one amazing happy place cheering us on from above. And that fills me with great joy. Thanks for coming back, Adrienne.
you are beautiful & an angel
love you heaps
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Ohhhhhh big hugs my aunty xxxxxxxxx
I haven’t checked out the video yet, but just wanted to thank you for sharing such a lovely story about your grandparents. Such a special memory!
Hi Clare
Thanks for your lovely comment! You should totally watch that Vimeo (it’s about a minute long). His films are so beautiful… weird but very beautiful. It is a special memory of my grandparents. I wish I had known it when they were alive. But perhaps that’s what made it so special.
Kirsten
Two things you should probably not do when your pregnancy hormones are running wild: 1. Watch Jason Silva’s LOVE video and 2. Read your latest blog. I was a blubbering mess and had to go upstairs to bury my head in my pillow for a big cry before I came down to respond.
One of the most beautiful things Andy ever said to me when it was about three years since we had met each was, in response to my question “Does three years seem like a long time or a short time to you?” He said, “Neither, it just feels like I’ve always known you.”
Thank you again for your lovely thoughts.
d xoxo
Oh Donza! I didn’t mean to make you cry!! I did have a *tiny* snigger at the thought of you bolting upstairs and diving under the great wall of pillows (but that’s my warped sense of humour). I contemplated not posting this actually. It was hard to write and I did wonder whether it might upset people. Thanks for posting your own love story. What an awesome couple you are… and what a beautiful response to your question
xx
Gorgeous post. Such a special moment you’ll treasure forever.
And boy do you look like your grandad!
Love? Putting someone else’s needs before your own without thinking about it. Instinct.
x
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I’m glad you liked my post, H. This was actually really hard for me to write. If there was anything positive about my Nana passing away it was that I discovered this wonderful story. Apparently my grandfather used to attach clothes pegs to her back and she would walk around the shops not having a clue that pegs were stuck to her. And I “loved” your definition of love too xx