Tribute to Maleita

Tribute to Maleita

Today I wanted to share with you a personal story.

Unfortunately a few weeks ago I lost my Grandmother, my “Nan” as she passed away due to old age.

Her name was Maleita May Newman, but was known as “Leita” to all her friends.

She was a very important part of my life, and helped raise me along with my Pop and my Mother.

She had a very hard life in many ways.

She lost her own Mother at a very young age, and worked hard on a small farm with no electricity raising 3 daughters of her own.

By the time I was born they had moved into town, and I spent my first years living in their house until my Mother built a small house next door, but I saw her almost every day of my life growing up.

As a tribute to her life, I wanted to share with you some of my memories of her.

Remembering the good times

I feel fortunate that I had my Nan in my life for 42 years.

She lived a long life to 93, and I often used to say to her that she had to make it to 100 to get a telegram from the Queen.

She used to laugh and always said that she wouldn’t make it… But I always thought she would.

Mum told me a story many times, that after I was born, Nan said that she would never make it to see me go to school… But she obviously had a lot more fight in her than she would admit to.

I’ve had some sad moments and a few tears over the past few weeks… But I also feel happy when I remember so many happy moments we shared as I was growing up.

I always remember Nan cooking… Belly buttons, scones and little cupcakes with icing on them… and she always let me eat the leftover mix in the bowl, and lick the mixers or the spoon.

I remember sitting in the middle of Nan and Pop in their ute with Nan driving (Nan aways drove), and we would get to the end of Frank street, down the road from their house, and Pop would always say “your right my way” and off Nan would drive.

I remember driving down the street in the ute with her many times and she would buy me a packet of chips or a comic, or she would drive me to school.

I remember walking around her house one day trying to whistle and I finally let out a huge whistle and Nan came out of the kitchen pleased as punch… and still to this day I don’t think I’ve whistled that loud again.

I remember when I was playing cricket out in the porch, yelling and carrying on, and Nan come out and said “That’s the first time I have heard you swear” and I tried to say that I didn’t, but I’m not sure she believed me.

I remember having a family cricket match one Christmas and I was bowling to Nan and said I was Michael Holding and she didn’t want to face up, but then I run in really slow but bowled it quick (Like Holding used to) but the ball hit her leg and gave her a big bruise.

I always loved Christmas at Nan’s with all the family.

I remember riding my bike down at the end of Frank street one day, and a big older boy got on my bike and started riding it around, and Nan must of saw him and drove down and told him to get off because he was too big, and he was hiding behind a telegraph pole and Nan kept following him around this pole telling him off.

I also remember when she was mad at me, and she said “I’m going to skin you alive boy”, and when she told me not to drink so much Coke because it was “gut rot”.

As I got older, I remember going over and watching wheel of fortune, or the footy or cricket with Nan and Pop, and once I got up to go to leave and give Nan a kiss, Mini (Nan’s little Chihuahua) used to bark and jump up, until I walked down their hallway to the screen door, and then I would scare it and it would run back to Nan.

I remember later on when Nan had moved into the nursing home and she was telling people about how many kids, grandkids and great grandkids she had, and seeing the pride on her face.

I remember so many other good times with Nan and have so many happy memories…

But there are two things that really stick out in my mind.

The first was when I was really young and Nan took me to the doctor when I was sick… And she introduced me as her Grandson… and I could see the pride in her face.

The second was the last words she ever said to me … I love you.

She always made me feel loved, and that she was proud of me.

And I feel the same about her.

RIP Nan xxx (29th July 1922 ~ 23rd June 2016)

Always keep your family close, tell them you love them and enjoy the time you have with them.

You never know how short or long you have.

To your success,

John W. Newman

Lifestyle Entrepreneur and Online Business Mentor.

Dream It… Believe It… Then Achieve It!

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