My Grandma

I’ve been wanting to write this blog post for a while now but I could never really find the words. Death makes people act in peculiar ways. Some people cry, some question, some bottle it all up. At first, I asked myself whether a post like this was fitting on Year Abroad blog. My Grandma never visited South Carolina; in fact, I don’t even think she ever had the chance to come to the States at all. So how could a post purely based on my Grandma have anything to do with the culture shock I endure pretty much every other day?

Well, here’s the thing; my Grandma was a very kind, generous and loving lady, whom which I was rather fond of. Even writing the word ‘was’ hurts. She inspired us all to do our best and take every opportunity life throws at you. So when she passed away a few weeks ago whilst I was over 4000 miles away from home it really affected my Year Abroad experience. It’s been a challenging few weeks, to say the least. Not only have I been training for Swim Club Nationals in Atlanta, rehearsing for the Musical ‘Legally Blonde’, studying, reading, competing and socialising, I’ve also been grieving and had to take a week out my hectic schedule to fly back to London.

The feelings of guilt, uselessness and sadness have been constantly at the back of my mind. Whilst Skype is a fantastic invention, there’s nothing quite like walking through arrivals at Heathrow and being greeted with massive hugs from both your parents. The fact that I was at home this time last week seems totally bizarre. Now I’m back in sunny South Carolina, my short trip home feels even more make-believe and surreal.

The funeral was a beautiful service. And although I sat and cried throughout most of it, I somehow managed to compose myself (for all of three minutes), stand up in front of the odd 100 people at the service and sing. It was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. But, it was a perfect way to say goodbye. There’s not really much more I can say. I originally started to write this blog with the intention to update my friends and family back home with my American life, so I felt that I couldn’t really miss an event like this off the list. I thought I’d end this post with the last part of my mum’s speech – she was so eloquent, and so brave, therefore, it seems fitting.

‘My mum was:

                A granddaughter

                a daughter,

                a supportive sister,

                a loyal cousin,

                a loving wife,

                an interested  great-aunt,

                a wonderful mother,

                a generous auntie

                a thoughtful mother in law

                an awesome grandma

                and a kind, tactful friend

                my extraordinary brave mum.’

Jill Overall

18th September 1937 - 17th March 2014