This is one of my favourite of your newsletters so far. So cleverly written, weaving in different points in time and linking them with the theme so seamlessly. But most beautiful of all is how you’ve captured the essence of Poppy and your special connection 🫶🫶 loads of love, Poppy. An extra banana on toast from me x
I love when you write of your Poppy. I know how sad it is to be losing him, but I love that you can share the love of him with us.
Growing up, my Granny and Grandad were my favourites. I lost them both years ago. Grandad to cancer, he died before his senility could truly take hold, though it was beginning.
My Granny though, she lived long enough to lose herself to dementia. She lived her last few years in a home, often doing and saying things she would never have done.
The last time I saw her alive, she thought I was her niece and the friend who'd driven me was my boyfriend, and introduced us to everyone who came past that way. There was no point correcting her, and fortunately my friend knew that too.
With 2 siblings, we used to have to take turns with our visits to them. But they grew up and stopped, and I never did til I moved away.
When I came out as a lesbian, they were always there for me. Even against my parents. My Grandad in particular, I think, cos when their son, my uncle, came out, he treated him badly, was glad for a chance to make up for it. But they were both supportive and loving, as they always were for me. The only ones who were.
They weren't the best parents. My mum has attempted on more than one occasion to sully my memories of them. So has my dad. Funny, really, considering she and my dad weren't good parents either, not to me anyway (though they'd never admit that ofc), but seem to manage to be good grandparents. From both sides of the family the only people who I knew I could count on were Granny and Grandad.
They never got to meet trans me tho. Grandad died way before. Granny didn't, but...well see above about thinking I was her niece. That was after I came out. There was never any point. She already didn't know me. I didn't even get to introduce Cuddles to her, except when it was too late. She had a massive stroke, and I went to see her in the hospital, just to say goodbye - she never regained consciousness after it - and I introduced them then. It was all I could do.
Without them, I'd have no memories of anyone who I knew - just deep down knew - loved me, growing up.
They taught me about being kind, just because. About making friends out of everyone. About when to speak my mind, and that it's ok to do so even if it might upset someone. About the precious gift that is time with someone you love.
This is one of my favourite of your newsletters so far. So cleverly written, weaving in different points in time and linking them with the theme so seamlessly. But most beautiful of all is how you’ve captured the essence of Poppy and your special connection 🫶🫶 loads of love, Poppy. An extra banana on toast from me x
Beautiful Lauren thank you.
Smells remind me of my beautiful mum, she was a fabulous gardener. Wild roses & honeysuckle smells instantly give me a happy memories x
I love when you write of your Poppy. I know how sad it is to be losing him, but I love that you can share the love of him with us.
Growing up, my Granny and Grandad were my favourites. I lost them both years ago. Grandad to cancer, he died before his senility could truly take hold, though it was beginning.
My Granny though, she lived long enough to lose herself to dementia. She lived her last few years in a home, often doing and saying things she would never have done.
The last time I saw her alive, she thought I was her niece and the friend who'd driven me was my boyfriend, and introduced us to everyone who came past that way. There was no point correcting her, and fortunately my friend knew that too.
With 2 siblings, we used to have to take turns with our visits to them. But they grew up and stopped, and I never did til I moved away.
When I came out as a lesbian, they were always there for me. Even against my parents. My Grandad in particular, I think, cos when their son, my uncle, came out, he treated him badly, was glad for a chance to make up for it. But they were both supportive and loving, as they always were for me. The only ones who were.
They weren't the best parents. My mum has attempted on more than one occasion to sully my memories of them. So has my dad. Funny, really, considering she and my dad weren't good parents either, not to me anyway (though they'd never admit that ofc), but seem to manage to be good grandparents. From both sides of the family the only people who I knew I could count on were Granny and Grandad.
They never got to meet trans me tho. Grandad died way before. Granny didn't, but...well see above about thinking I was her niece. That was after I came out. There was never any point. She already didn't know me. I didn't even get to introduce Cuddles to her, except when it was too late. She had a massive stroke, and I went to see her in the hospital, just to say goodbye - she never regained consciousness after it - and I introduced them then. It was all I could do.
Without them, I'd have no memories of anyone who I knew - just deep down knew - loved me, growing up.
They taught me about being kind, just because. About making friends out of everyone. About when to speak my mind, and that it's ok to do so even if it might upset someone. About the precious gift that is time with someone you love.
I miss them. But they're still here.
So so moving! Thank you for sharing this with us!