Tonight I finished the last Danish Shortbread Tina made me as a gift. Ive had some time now to process what occurred during her visit. At first I was concerned that she was in the early stages of grief loosing her only sister. My imagination was over active as usual and all the things that I thought might happen didn't and it was very easy and lovely to be with her. Dad put me straight and said if you are going to worry about everything that could go wrong, then you would do nothing. Hes right of course. Agian! We had lots of laughs. She has most of her teeth which is pretty good going for an 89 yo who grew up in the war years. So I didnt have to pre chew the steak.... Nah Im just talking shit now....
Tina called me on Sunday to thank me for the hospitality and she said she didn't once feel like an old mother while in my company and felt like we were more like sisters. Which is how I would also describe how our energy mingled. She started off castigating me as soon as she got in my car when I picked her up because I didn't know my way around Canberra after living here for 9 years and then I told her about my Dyslexia and from then on it was all good. Shes sharp my Tina. I think this going straight on the attack as soon as people are confronted by my presence is probably a good thing coz that way we can get it sorted right there and then. This happens when dad first sees me after an absence as well. So still don't know if its an age thing or a Kim thing but I guess that will come to light when I'm ready for it. See, Tina thinks I did her a good turn and I think she did me a good turn. For instance, I now know I will not be spending Easter alone in Canberra anymore because I enjoyed her visit so much. I will either invite someone or go somewhere else.
At night we sat around in our nities and talked about philosophy, art, religion, sex, IT, while she showed me pictures of various people in her life. I asked her to bring them, I'm curious about her Dutchness. We had a picture of her sister at the table the whole time she was here because I felt she and I needed it. At night when she went to bed I went into her room and gave her a kiss on the forehead and told her a story about something trivial such as how I loved looking out my window through the fly wire on a stormy night for the moon, when a child. How I could still smell the dusty fly wire and the humidity all entwined in little squares.
Another thing Ive realised since being with her is that I love flying kites. That's why I now have two kites and planning to fly them regularly. The trip to the arboretum where she went and spoke to every kite flyer and mother with a new baby tickled my fancy. A yet unknowing role model for me.
Nanny naps are in order big time when you are 89. Which may I say, I totally agree with. Farting or rather trumpeting are also in order and again I totally agree and conform to that as well. Hand over heart now, bowels are high on the agenda, especially in the mornings when nothing happens. I had to put my foot down and stand over her to drink water and eventually everything come good. She laughed at me later, once routine had been established again, saying I was bossy. Wha???
The most adorable part happened on Easter Sunday, when she was telling me about a Chinese peanut seller in the war and immediately asked me a question in Dutch, to which I gave the traditional blank stare. She pressed on and then said, Oh sorry I was talking Dutch wasn't I! We laughed so hard and became so full of love it was just what I needed to clear out a whole heap of crap that had been stuck inside me. That showed me I was doing my job as a healer. That there was a good rapport between us which had just gotten stronger.
Oh and did you know that wearing sunglasses gives you more authority?
