It has been said, by many wise people, that the best way to be happy is to make others happy.
At the end of the Wesak celebrations, I had one more item on my list, to bring happiness to another. This would be a suprise visit to see my nan. I knew that this would bring her & myself much happiness. And it did. My nan & I have always had a close relationship & we have alot in common, including being very sentimental. I drove down into Sydney, parked, went in & found her sitting by a window listening to her little radio. I burst into tears seeing my lovely nan sitting alone by herself. Here is this woman who once upon a time had a beautiful home filled with children, abundance & colour. She was an artist, her medium was watercolour & she painted difficult things like water, flowers & animals. The first thing she said to me was, "I knew you were coming." & she would have too, my nan, Annie is psychic ~ she has a well tuned intuitive nature.
So we sat, laughed, talked & cried - mainly tears of joy - for two hours. When I left ,the nurses at their station asked me if I was okay. I blubbered out, with tears still streaming down my face, that I was fine - actually, I was really very happy. I not only left with many memories rekindled, & a beautiful feeling in my heart but with the special gift of a crystal necklace. Annie was 21 when she received the necklace for her birthday. This year she turns 91 years old. She told me that even though she doesn't have her family around her now all the time, she has her memories & these mean everything to her. Last year we went to her 90th birthday party which was also the launch of her book - an autobiography. She told me that it is important to have a good life, to create good memories & to hold these in your heart.
Photo - Annie & Fred Hinshelwood, & isn't my Poppy a handsome fellow!
