Goodbye Ma (1917 - 2005)

Yesterday, we held the funeral for my grandmother. I had wanted to write earlier, just to say goodbye, but it seems that when someone passes time seems to stand still in a way that I’ve never seen elsewhere.

Ma passed away on Saturday, March 5th at 12:20PM. She lived a full life spanning just over 88 years, all of which we’re grateful for. Though many people referred to her as “ma”, she was indeed one of rocks that I relied on throughout my life.

I often think back to just how much she save me. When I was first born, my parents were new immigrants and quite poor. They left me in the care of some neighbors who took what they could afford. Unfortunately for me, these people shouldn’t have been left with children. I was subjected to not only neglect and verbal abuse, but also physical abuse. I was literally scared for my life (as my mom recounts the story now).

And so is how Ma came into my life. She left her home in Guyana in 1977 to come to take care of her grandson (I think she had only seen me once). She literally saved my life. Though that was a terrible experience, I’m grateful that the result was her being here. Ma was the only grandparent I had alive and had it not been for that event, she most likely would have stayed in Guyana her whole life and I never would have known her.

So now she’s gone and surely looking down from heaven. I just want to say thank you for the life you let me have with you. I love you and will miss you dearly.

Goodbye ma.