August 23
2009
A life well lived, but not long enough.
Shelley. What do you say about such a wonderful person? She had such an enormous impact upon the world around her, as evidenced by the massive amount of people who couldn’t fit in the chapel for the funeral, by the facebook, email, sms and personal words of sorrow, and by the uncontrolled tears that have flowed in the past week.
Tuesday …. I was on my way to work. Running late, as usual. I was going across the bridge over the M4 on Mamre Rd. The phone rang, and I almost didn’t answer it … I was driving, so I usually just let it go to message bank, but something made me check who it was. As soon as I saw my sister’s name, my heart sank. She told me that Shelley had been unresponsive that morning, and they’d had to call the MET team. A quick change of plans, and a call to work … before I knew it, I was at the hospital. It was way too familiar an experience. My mum was already there, talking to our cousin, who runs the Oncology ward there. Shelley was conscious, but really struggling. She was in an out all day … awake, but not really lucid. Obviously very distressed, and in a lot of pain. One of her sisters was there too, another was on her way, and the third was getting ready to drive from Bourke. It was a long emotional day. Shelley’s sons were there, looking as shell-shocked as I’ve ever seen them. My sister was holding it all together. Some special friends gathered, and were just legends. A bit after 7pm tuesday night, everyone else left the room. Shelley and Lorraine were in the room by themselves, with a nurse. And Shelley left this world the way she wanted to – with no fuss, quickly, and with the love of her life by her side.
I rang Dennis straight away, and Kieran could tell without being told what had happened. I stayed with Lorraine until after midnight … a trip back to her place to put Bella-Rai to bed, have drink, then head back to the hospital to wait for Shelley’s other sister, who was still travelling from Bourke. We didn’t want to tell her over the phone, and we really wanted to be there when she found out. After spending a bit of time with Shelley, and seeing her so peaceful, it was time to leave. It was hard for Lorraine to walk out that door, and I can’t even imagine what it must have been like for her.
Wednesday morning, we had to tell the girls. They lost it, understandably. Tayla said “why does this keep happening to us?” How do you answer that? I have no idea …. it’s too hard for me to get my head around, so how do I expect a 6 year old to? They’ve been coping as ok as can be expected. We had the funeral on Friday, just like Shelley wanted. I spent Thursday night organising and editing photos of Shelley for the slideshow. It was so hard – to see that beautiful smile, the funny faces, and all the wonderful memories, and know that we weren’t going to have any more of these. Even harder was getting ready to head off to the funeral. What a beautiful service though. Lots of pink – the guys in our family were wearing pink ties, we were all wearing rainbow ribbon pins, as well as pink ribbons in honour of all those fighting breast cancer. A beautiful photo, along with some special keepsakes sitting on top of the coffin. Shelley’s biker bear and stuffed motorbike. Some beautiful words by one of the kids from the Cottage, the OOSH centre Lorraine runs, and that Shelley used to work at before she got too sick. Wonderful memories. Some VERY Shelley music. And a beautiful Bella-Rai, dancing in the aisle, wandering around and saying hello to everyone she loved.
Afterwards, we all went back to the Cottage for a celebration of a wonderful life. Kelsey and Tayla said that we had to have fairy bread – Aunty Shelley almost wouldn’t come to one of Tay’s birthday parties one year, because we weren’t having fairy bread, so we had to make some so she would come. I think it was the kind of gathering she would have loved to be at … all her favourite people. After that, we went to Lorraine’s place for dinner and drinks – there was a huge amount of food left from the wake, and I think there still is, two days later!
How are we all doing? Good question … and one I’m not nearly capable of answering clearly. I feel like a part of my broken heart is missing. The girls are slightly shell-shocked still. Kieran is wandering around looking a little lost. Bella doesn’t know what’s going on – it hasn’t hit her yet that her Mumma isn’t around, and it will take a bit of time for that reality to hit her, the poor little munchkin. Everyone else is missing that dry sense of humour, and that total honesty. Lorraine … I don’t know. She’s missing the love of her life. I think she’s feeling totally lonely … surrounded by so many people who love her, she wants the only one she can’t have any more. My already broken heart is breaking even more for her.
oh babe, beautifully written. you had me hanging on your every word. biggest hugs for you – she sounded like a beautiful soul. thinking of you and your kids (((hugs)))
Tamara… i have nothing else to say except lots of love and hugs. After what I have been through the last couple of months I can understand a little bit of what you and your family must be feeling. Know that ALL of your friends are here whenever you need ANY of us.
Your post was beautiful 🙂
Rache x
That was a beautiful read. You said it all and said it so well.
Luv Shelee 🙂
Hi beautiful 🙂
So sorry to read this – i've been so off blog reading for so long that i keep missing really important things like this. Such a beautiful post pt and i can't imagine the pain and your sis and all the family have gone through.
Sorry it was such a shocking rush when we saw you recently too 🙁 i felt really bad about that. wish i could have chatted longer. lovely to meet your precious fam though mate.
well, thinking of you and sending my love too,
lusi x
Oh lordy lordy – I couldnt draw away from this…
All I can say is this is a post filled with soooo much love.
You are amazing and so is your family.. All I can feel is sooo much strength.
Hugs Blossom
xxxxxxx
Ah..miss muffet……..where are you??????????