Remember Me

'Remember me in the family tree

My name, my days, my strife;

Then I'll ride upon the wings of time

And live an endless life.'

- Linda Goetsch



In a conversation with my daughter M recently I was reminded of what I see as the importance of what I do. My 14 year old Granddaughter had asked her Mother about coming to visit. Being aware of my current circumstances, T had asked about them coming to stay at the farm. She pointed out to her Mum that she was afraid I would be gone before she really got to know me. I felt truly blessed to be told that my caring, delightful 14 y.o. Granddaughter really wanted to spend more time getting to know me. Is it only distance that separates us, or is it possible to live in close proximity and still not know someone?

It is a set of circumstances that has kept us apart over recent years. My daughter has been undergoing chemotherapy, plus being fed another dreadful drug for a condition that is not cancer related. While I have been enduring side effects of illness, and treatment, daughter M has had a dreadful time with no family support at all. It has amazed me that, as a single Mum with three children, she has continued to put one foot in front of the other in order to get through the days, in spite of regular hospital admissions and every conceivable side effect. Having endured treatment, she now has to live with unimaginable pain, as a result of rheumatoid arthritis - a side effect of treatment. Unfortunately, she was not informed of the potential for anything like that, so she does not know if she would have continued treatment, given all the facts.

Over recent weeks Haydn and I have been planning a road trip to Victoria [health permitting] to spend time with my family. In the meantime, I have made the decision to stop spending time shredding personal papers. Beautiful cards written so lovingly, bundled in ribbon, along with many years of personal letters and journals, will all be left here for family members to read if they so desire. After all, if my family feel they do not know me, they can get to know me through others eyes, through reading all that has been written over the years. I have always been an avid letter writer.

Of course, that also includes my blog which, I trust, will be like the indelible influence of a loving grandmother. I explained to my daughter that information missing now, will surely be highlighted in both my writing, and the thoughts of others, who have so lovingly taken the time to send me such beautiful cards as well as to correspond over the years.

On that glorious day when we are united as family in Eternity we will already have made our acquaintance.