Today is Hubby's birthday

Warrigal

Warrigal

SF VIP
Location
Sydney, Australia
Today is the first time his birthday has come round since he died. It would have been his 82nd.

Two years ago, in August, we made a big fuss, hiring space at the local Diggers Club and inviting neighbours, friends and family to share his 80th birthday celebration. He was still living at home then and was able to make a speech thanking everyone. A good memory.

Three days later he had a fall, broke his wrist and ended up in hospital where he came down with COVID. He never recovered enough to come home and began life in Yallambee Village, a facility quite close to home.

Last year we celebrated big time. First my 80th birthday in February, then our 60th wedding anniversary in March and I splashed out, inviting lots of people to both. It was the time for making more good memories for Hubby and me, and also for the extended family.

When his birthday came around again last year we spent time together, away from the nursing home and we talked about many things but mostly about the places we had been and the things we had seen. My birthday and our wedding anniversary were also quietly observed, without a crowd of people around us.

Our wedding anniversary is March 15 and on April 3 this year he was gone. His last farewell was another big event. We filled the church and the function room at a local hotel/restaurant and remembered the man who had been part of the lives of so many people - four generations of family, friends of old and more recent ones, work colleagues and neighbours. It was a time of remembering and many memories were shared that day.

Today would have been his 82nd birthday. I will take myself out of the house and spend it alone. He will be in my thoughts all day as I travel by train down to Kiama, a place we visited a number of times. It will be a special day, full of warm and happy memories. Good memories all.

This photo was taken at our 60th wedding anniversary

 

As Rabbie Burns wrote in his Ode to a Mouse,

The best laid schemes oā€™ Mice anā€™ Men
Gang aft agley,

My plans for today turned out to be impossible because a train was stuck in a tunnel, and Kiama was consequently out of the question. Plan B was very open ended. Instead of taking a train south I reversed direction and headed for the city and the harbour. There I walked around Circular Quay for a bit but the sky was overcast and the harbour looked rather sullen. Instead of taking a ferry ride I walked past the Opera House and past the entrance to the Botanic Gardens, before taking the light rail out into the suburbs.

The end of the line is very close to my birthplace and to my grandfather's house. All the while memories of past times and people who have passed away kept coming to mind. It was as if the life/death barrier no longer existed.

Two more train connections and I was back home. I had not eaten for five hours but never the less I do not feel hungry. Nor am I tired. I rate this day to be as good as it gets.

Maybe next year for Kiama.
 
What a shame about the Kiama train. But with Sydney trains it's impossible to plan ahead. My son who lives in Melbourne is verry frustrated by the trains, they are always doing track work, and one has to get a bus to your destinations. I know it was a cloudy day today but a walk around the Opera House is always lovely. It's a shame we couldn't have met up at Circular Quay and had a nice warm cuppa. Take care. xxx
 
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