“So Jay! How was Jamaica?”
It was great!
“Hi Jay!! How was Jamaica??”
It was, um, ok.
“Hey there Jay, you’re back! How was Jamaica?”
Er….
*sigh*
Truth is, I don’t have one answer. Seeing my Granddad was just beyond awesome. My mom organising just about everything was amazing. This isn’t a “tribute”, because he’s not dead. This is just a recollection of moment. A moment so awesome, I’m just going to try to put it into words, most likely in a rather clumsy manner.
My Granddad was looking possibly the best I had seen him in years. On the plane home, for the first time ever, I cried. He was alert, completely with it, happy, chatty…the look on his face when he walked out on to his veranda to see his immediate family members, including a great grandchild he didn’t know about yet (my nephew), is an image that will stay with me FOREVER. I think it took him a good few minutes to cotton on to the fact that we were all actually sitting there, right there, real life. He couldn’t stop staring around and for a short while, was actually quite speechless.
This is most unlike my Granddad, who can sit and talk for hours about anything you like.
My gorgeous aunt guided him to the door telling him there was someone to see him. This was his face I managed to capture as he appeared.
Never had I longed so badly for my boys, my own family, to be there with me. Granddad’s smile was so immense, so full, he just seemed to want to take in everything all at the same time. He chatted to us, to himself, to anyone who would listen, the whole time.
It took him a short while to realise he was a great grandfather again.
It made me smile immensely though, to see his face light up more as he realised the extent of his family surprise. I’m not entirely sure I can say I’ve seen him smile this particular smile before.
I had created a photo book a few weeks previously; it was on offer at the time, and I hadn’t thought much of the offer at first. Closer to this holiday, it suddenly made sense to take my boys to Granddad; I created “A Year In The Life of Noah and Isaac”, containing photos from the last 12 months of the boys, myself and D. I think Granddad liked it.
He sat there and read it from beginning to end. Twice.
One of the things that was important to me about this family event, especially having my camera with me, was creating fresh memories for my family. We were looking at photos of the generation above me. Of my mom, my aunties and uncles as children, little sign of the grandchildren. Some of my Granddad and even, stupidly out of the blue, my adored Granny, as young adults, some 50 years ago.
This particular moment was especially eye-opening, looking at these photos with my cousins and siblings.
My own children will do this one day. Maybe my own grand children.
Granddad didn’t know we were coming to visit. A total of 16 family members visited him over the period of one week. 11 family members waited for him on his verander that first day we went to see him, 2 members were already staying with him. Some of the members he had never met before (partners and young children), while other members he hadn’t seen for maybe 12 years.
It was a hell of a lot for him to take in, and we (nervously) laughed and joked about him surviving such a surprise visit.
He survived all right. When we said our goodbyes, less than a few short days later, he was asking if we could make it back this year for Christmas.
Granddad? I can’t make it back for Christmas. But trust me, we will make it back to Jamaica to see you again soon.
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Gorgeous. Bought a tear to my eye and a lump to my throat. xx
Thank you. x
Gosh this is a beautiful post, I am teary eyes and missing my own grandparents dearly. My parents are going and an aunt and uncle are going to pay a surprise visit at the same time over xmas so they will get to see three of thier kids.
I can't afford to go but would really love to introduce them to my partner of nearly 10 years and my daughter, both of whom they have never met. The photobook is a great idea, I may have to slip one in the parentals luggage!
Thank you, it was a tough one to write! Definitely go with the photo book thing; my Granddad appreciated more than I ever thought he would, and at least he has that as a lovely reminder of who his great grandchildren are.
Big fat sloppy tears after reading this and seeing the moments you captured. <3
Oh Jay, what an emotional post. I felt like I was there on that veranda with you all.
Wiping away tears from my eyes and so happy that you could be there.
I hope you can ALL go back soon.
Much love xxx
Thanks so much Laura. I swear I'm going to find a way for us all to get out there, no matter what. Feeling really good about it after all that angst. xx
These are NOT tears … you understand ……. NOT tears !!!!
You been rubbing onions in your eyes again, Moon?
x
What a beautiful post. I have two granddads, one lives in South Africa and has never met my daughter and one in Cyprus who has managed to see Mya twice in 18 months. It is very difficult living so far from loved ones but makes it so special when they finally get to meet. Such precious moments xxx ps Love the photobook idea!
Thank you Natasha, it's so hard when family is all over the place, I understand. The photo book was definitely a hit, strongly suggest considering it!
x
Oh, HOW LOVELY, girl!! We hail from the same place, you know… awesome to have people to love you – even if you haven't seen their faces in years… xox
I know girl, I know. Even more determined to go see them…right? xx
Got a serious lump in my throat reading that Jay. Such beautiful thoughts and pictures captured. Big hugs to you Jay xx
Thank you. Weird one to write, but so glad I did it
x
That smile he's got with the little one in his arms? Awesome x
That's the photo that gets me. Every single time. x
Oh now I have to have tissues before I read your blog Jay.
Lots of tears and smiles; and that was just from the pic of him holding his great grand child.
If I win the lottery before Christmas am flying you all out there xx
Be it happy or sad, I’ve never cried so easily as I do with posts on here!
A beautiful post Jay, I’m so glad you managed to get over there.
The photobook was definitely a cracking idea x
So lovely I miss my grandad so much since he passed in January we put pictures that he had kept of my children and me in his coffin. Family is special and I'm so glad you got to see him xxx
Thank you Amy. I do remember your grandad passing away and remembered seeing how much he was loved within your family. There's little as important as those family moments. x
I am sitting here in floods of tears. I am so glad you got to see your Granddad. He looks amazing. His smile is infectious and now I know exactly where you get it. As always your photography brought the moment to life.
Thanks Kat. His smile that day was AWESOME; if you'd been there you would have seen a sea of smiles which all looked exactly the same.
)
That 3rd photo is amazing, when he sees your nephew. What an amazing trip with so many of you going. You've got a great family. I sincerely hope you get to visit him again.
Beautiful post and photos, Jay.
I am wiping a tear from my eye as I have no grandparents alive to introduce to my daughter, who herself only has three grandparents still living. We are working on the idea of 'a year in the life' (or almost) type photobook for my elderly Aunt & Uncle.
What a wonderful family, such gorgeous smiles – those moments will be with you all for ever.
x
Wow…I'm crying!! Jay that is so beautiful you captured some amazing moments reading it made me feel like I was right there again on the verander!! Thank you xxxxx
Ahw sis! Thank you (and well done!) for helping me have a fab week. Missed you guys loads when I left! Glad you liked the post, thank you for reading
xxxx
WOW…that is all.