This newsletter was supposed to be a bit different. I was coming here to share what a wonderful vacation and the 40th birthday celebration I had, from Denmark to Iceland, to being with friends and discovering new sights. I was also going to share how happy I was at the perspective of spending the whole month of November at home, sleeping in my bed and not living out of a suitcase, things I truly cherish as a frequent traveler.
Alas, life had other plans and today I buried my grandmother.
She passed away on All Saints Day, which is the most poetic end to the story of a woman who spent her century of a life duly dedicated to her religion, her church and her God. I am thankful she flew all around the world, to be with my mother, and witness my birth in Cuba, create memories in Portugal, Belgium, The Netherlands where we would visit family. It took me years to realise my friends didn't have grandmas who travelled around the world or spent holidays abroad with them like I did.
I feel overly blessed that we were able to properly commemorate her 100th birthday in July surrounded by hundreds of family members and friends, from all over the world. I will never forget I left her party before her, by 9pm, and I shouted "I am going to bed, I don't have her age", smiling at my grandma, as I was leaving. She was celebrated in life and not only at her funeral, as so many of us will be.
May she now rest in peace.
Jess