Memories of a Life Well lived. in Majimaze Musing!

                 Hello Dear Readers,
                                                How are you all?I trust you are well and happy.I just looked at the dates of my last entry and I seem to be a two week sort of writer!It also apears that I only have enough to be of interest to any of you after two weeks!My life is fairly routine and believe it or not,I LIKE it that way!For the first 62 years of being here on the planet, I had enough drama and excitement to make me apreciate being just me and doing the bits and bobs I enjoy doing.
                                             Which segues nicely into the subject of my entry.Last week a very important person left my life and we farewelled him on Friday at age 89.His name was Mick Torpey.
                                                  My parents were both school teachers with 8 week summer holidays.and when I was 4, we started making the big trek from Wellington,to Auckland 500 miles away..We travelled by overnight steam train,another story in itself.On reaching Auckland,we stayed with grandparents for 2 nights then travelled by boat,around the other Harbour,the Manukau,to Big Bay, the last wharf but one before the open sea.It was bliss!We were free!
                          One of the first people I remembered meeting was Mick Torpey.He was in is 20's and was driving the family's dairy cows alongt the beach to the cowshed for milking.I held tightly to my Dad's hand and watched,bewitched!I was a city kid.A black haired blue eyed Irishman ,his family was one of the first settlers there at Big Bay and at that stage ,there was no road.Everything was done by boat.
                                                  Aged about six and left to roam with my cousins whose people owned the bach, I often ended up at the cowshed and Mick used to say,I was a chatterer then,'and she still is now!"He was great with me and I told him everything.His nature was gentle and ,firm and teasing and busy.He wasn't so gentle when I left a gate open and the bull got out and terrorised the few bach owners!he and my father loomed over me and needlessly tos ay ,it never happened again.

                             Every summer we went to the beach.When I was 8 he married Shirley Marsden and they shifted up the big hill and built a big house and a new cowshed.They had 3 children by the time it was finished.Every year I would find Mick and tell him about my year that was.He was my confidante'.no secrets!He knew and liked my Dad and there was mutual respect.They fished together and when my Dad died in 1958,we came back from Fiji and to the beach.By now there were 5 children and you'd have thought he would have had no time for me.Nothing changed.He listened and laughed and and hugged me when I cried out my grief for my Dad.Then he turned the big hose on me and sprayed water over me.I laughed!
                                                Theyear before I had met Shirleys family.A big Catholic family,and had become infatuated by Richie the big blonde brother.He was 20 to my 13.I became best 'summer friends' with Joan,my age.I spent quite a bit of time at their place just along the road.I told Richie I was going to marry him that summer!He laughed.6 years later I did!Life became full when Richie went for two terms to Malaysia with the Army,I went nursing and Joan into the convent to be a nun.
            I still went to the beach when I could and still told Mick my sorrows and joys as I helped him milk the cows.They had more babies.I got engaged and that fiance' died of cancer.Two months before Hank died,I needed a break.I was nursing way down country and travelling to wellington to see my sick man.I was only 18.I was frightened and wrote to Hank from Auckland and broke the engagement.I felt dreadful.It was bad advice.At the beach I told Mick.He was very serious.He said 'It might make you feel better,but I don't think so,And he needs you now.Think again'I also talked to Richies Mum.She said,'You know what you have to do.'
                                               One evening Richie came down and at beside me on the sand.His mother had told him my dilemma.He asked my decision.I told him I was going back to Hank and whatever it took,I would stay 'til he died.He then changed the subject and we talked for ages, then he walked me home.At our bach,he stoped,turned me around to face him,then kissed me good and proer,and said.'

When it is over, I will be waiting'. We married in 1963.Mick couldn't come to the wedding.He was milking cows!However,we went back to the beach for our honeymoon.Mick tin canned us and he and Richie had a whale of a time over Christmas New Year!Mick and Shirley had seven children now and we just loved going for Christmas dinner at their place,sometimes there were 25 people,rellies and friends!Richie went overseas for 18 mths building airfields in NE Thailand with the Army.I stayed with Mick and Shirley for almost a year and helped Shirley with eight children and another on the way.I took charge of the youngest,Richard,and we still have that bond.Mick was a firm,loving,cheeky and very hard working husband and father.He had 80 dairy cows,pigs,chickens ,a huge vege garden and plenty of fish in the sea!He needed it all!They had 11 children in all.Shirley,Richies sister,is a wonderful woman.Loving,caring ,gentle and forgiving, she was and is to me,a treasure.A deeply religious woman,she never grumbled or complained,and never smacked.And she and Mick just loved each other to bits.She turned all the roduce from the farm and the sea into delicious meals and reserves. For the ten years,of my life aged 25 to 35,when I was drinking,it caused huge problems in my marriage.At one point ,I left and Mick took me home to Shirley..I was battered and bruised and had to get out.Not a word was said.He took me home.I found him going through my suitcase that evening..He found sleeping tablets and alcohol.He looked at me,tears in his eyes.He said,'Just in case you might do something stupid!' as he washed them down the drain.I never ever wil forget that.No judgement,just love and practicality.I stayed for 3 days then went back and we patched up our marriage and ultimately I gave up the booze in 1980.The best thing I evr did. Our lives went on and each family had tragedies and when Richie died ,he was at the funeral with Shirley and some of the family.He was very sad and hugeed me and said,'You were a good wife ,you made mistakes and corrected them, because you loved him so much.'

                                 We now lived on Waiheke and I returned 5-6 times to the beach and saw Mick and Shirley and their family often.He sold the farm and moved closer to Waiuku the nearest town He and Shirley lived simply and happily.She painted and he gardenend and fished.There was always family there.A year ago his health failed and he died peacefully with Shirley and 3 family by his side.

                                                 I have always called Big Bay my Heartland ,and Mick was one of my hearts there.Thankyou for your wise words,your love,your teasing,your listening,your time your lovely wife,and your wonderful family Mick of my Heart.
                                                               Only Penny and I could attend the funeral and my brther met the train and attended with us.It was a huge family affair and I was so hugged and kissed that my feet nearly left the ground and my heart sang as I cried and laughed and remembered wih them.

We couldn't stay as we had to get back,however,I was there to say goodbye to this lovely man who had such a quiet influence on how I lived my life. _//_

                                 My 9 year old grandson has been definitively diagnosed with Crohns disease.He has been in hospital 5 times in 7 weeks and it is such a mean diease.It is manageable and lifelong,and so debilitating he has lost 24 kg in that time.He has so much more to endure.I adore him and would really welcome your prayers for Jimmy,Janet my lovely daughter,his Mum and his Dad and his siter Samantha and me as we watch and love and do whatever we can.
                                                   I am well and just being me!!!
                                                        Lots of love,
                                                              Be kind to each other,
                                                                      God Bless,
                                                                         Majimazexxxxxxxxx