My great grandfather asked me to say goodbye
Longevity runs in my family, and I have been fortunate enough to know 4 of my great grandparents, of whom only one went a bit ga-ga (Boba). My great grandmother wasn't able to care for him herself (as she too was getting on a bit) and so he lived out his final years in a home where we all used to visit regularly and confuse the poor chap by talking to him for a few hours when he didn't have a flaming clue who any of us were. Except me. He thought I was his sister who had died over 50 years ago (for the record I don't look anything like her). I, being 12 at the time, didn't enjoy this experience and wasn't very good at playing along, and after being freaked out on numerous occasions I am sorry to say I was relieved when a clash of engagements meant I missed one of our weekly visits.

A few days after the missed visit I had a strange dream in which I had gone to visit Boba and he was totally compos mentis. And unlike other dreams I used to have I remembered exactly what he said, which was:

"MsZuzu, please tell Edith that I'm sorry these last few years have been difficult, but everything will be alright now and she can be happy. I love her, and you all take care of yourself".

I woke up and in a bemused fashion told my mum and asked her who Edith was. I watch the colour drain from my mum's face as she told me that Edith is the name of my great grandmother (which I didn't know because the only person who ever called her that had been Boba). About 10 minutes later my grandfather phoned to tell us that Boba had passed away in his sleep in the early hours of the morning.

I'm sorry to say I was too afraid to pass on the message myself, but my mum and aunt did it together. We are not a religous family and it was all a bit 'strange' for some people to accept. But it wasn't spooky, it all felt very nice at the time and the memory of it has been a comfort to me through the death of other family memebers and friends.
(MsZuzu, Fri 4 Jul 2008, 14:27, Reply)