reunions

So my bother leading up to seeing my grandfather was pure anxiety on my behalf. He looked great and I expected the worst.

I have recently had my High School Reunion. 10 years ago I left High School and went out into the wide new world of decision making and independance.

I had a boyfriend while I was at school which lasted four and a half years, from the time I was 15 and a half. He was a wonderful person and I really wanted to catch up with him at the reunion. He didn't come as he was living in Bundaberg (north Queensland) and had a 7 month old baby who he didn't want to part with.

I was dreaming about him and thinking about him constantly for a few months before the reunion. I was trying to contact him but I didn't know where to start. I spoke to my husband about him and he was happy for me to do a search. I spoke to a friend who had organised the reunion and she had a contact for him.

Anyway, I spoke to him last night!!!! I was over the moon. He hasn't changed a bit!!!!!!

I have his mother's watch and I'm going to visit in December so that he can give it to his little girl for her first birthday. (His mum died when we were in year 12). Can't wait.

Ageing

I am very nervous. Tomorrw I am going to see my grandfather who is starting early onset dementia. I haven't seen him for a few months and my dad told me today not to be surprised or hurt that my grandfather has deteriorated.

He is 83 today and he has had a good life. He was an imigrant to australia when he was five. He came from Italy with his parents so that they coudl work on the snowy mountains scheme. My grandfather is an honerable man who has worked hard all of his life, only giving up work at the fruit markets a few years ago.

I have very fond memories of he and I going off to market when I was younger. My nervousness exists because I love my grandfather dearly and I don not want to be bothered by who I see tomorrow - the shadow of the man he once was. I don't want this image of him to ccloud the the memories i have of him and I when I was younger...