Sunday, May 27, 2012

Heaven has another ratbag

In every Australian suburb and in every small country town there's the local corner shop. Ours is only 5 houses away and has been run by the same family for all of the 19 years that I've lived in this house.

Our local shop is run by a little old Lebanese woman who's there before sun up to open the doors and then come the afternoons and evenings, her two sons come in and run the shop and then close up at night.

There's two daughters who also occasionally help out when mum is overseas visiting family or when family events require mum to help out. I'm not sure where the father / husband is, he's never been around.

That shop is open rain, hail or shine, Christmas day, Easter, you name it and that shop is open. Today the shutters remain down and the doors remain closed. Instinctively you imagine the old lady has passed away, she's old, but then she doesn't look any different to the day I moved into the neighbourhood 19 years ago.

I found out from a phone call from my son this morning that the eldest son died last night, heart attack. He's in his 30's (I stand corrected - he was 40) with everything to live for, a wife and two small children and now he's gone. To say I'm shocked is an understatement.

He's been in our lives for 19 years, he's not a close friend but he's a part of our day-to-day life, in so much as you say hi, how's things, how's the family - kind of way.

He's known my boys since the day they were born, he gooed and gaaed over them as babies, and then later wrestled and teased them when we went into the shop. There was joy when he got married and when his boys were born and I'm sure his mother breathed a sigh of relief.

He was truly a larrikin lad, he skirted on the edges of the law, he mixed with somewhat dubious characters, he was rough and tough and not always politically correct in his comments and behaviour. He was a ratbag who encouraged my boys to do 'ratbag' deeds but in a funny kind of way.

He came from good stock though, he loved his mum, he adored his wife and boys and he had a heart of gold and a bag of lollies or chocolates for every child in the neighbourhood. Organising santa to visit on Christmas Eve every year was tradition in our neighbourhood and every child knew that the corner shop was the place to be. He was one of those people who always had a smile and a word for every one.

Last night another ratbag left this earth and for some strange reason that makes me incredibly sad; for his wife, for his beautiful ratbag boys who will grow up without their daddy and even for myself because the corner shop just won't be the same without him.

It's amazing how even the people who are only on the outskirts of your life can leave such a big void when they're gone. Hug your loved ones tight everyone and even share a smile for those who aren't so close because things can change in a heartbeat.

Hugs, Fi

"Tears are words from the heart which can't be spoken"

Comments are flying across Facebook tonight as everyone remembers him and the impact he had on our neighbourhood and the people who knew him. I found this picture of him and his boys which a friend had posted on her wall. This is him doing what he did best, being a dad.






11 comments:

  1. What an awful shock for the family. So lovely you took the time to mark his passing. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You never expect when it's someone so young Karyn

      Delete
  2. Wow, that is really sad and shocking at such an age. That says a lot about him, though, if your community is talking about him on Facebook. I'm sending positive thoughts to his family for healing and peace.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's kind of a big wake up call Karen when someone is so young and full of life.

      Delete
    2. It sure is! When we thought I was having a heart attack last year at age 36, it really changed our lives. Of course, the rest of what happened helped that change along, but the whole situation made us realize how quickly life can be taken away. I do think we live with a different attitude now.

      Delete
  3. It is good Fi that you have paid tribute to this real human being whose leaving leaves such a void in the lives of so many -- and whose presence touched so many.

    What a beautiful photo - the love in it is inspiring.

    Hugs my friend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you my friend - for your words and cyber hugs

      Delete
  4. That is so sad to hear! I am sorry for the family, all of them, his mom, his wife, his young children. He looked like a very kind man. I am sure the community will rally together to honor him in some way in the days ahead.

    betty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We kind of have an idea of what they might do to honour him, if they do what we think they will, I will be sure and share it here Betty

      Delete
  5. So sorry to hear this - although I didn't know him personally I do remember meeting him on those odd occasions we went to the shop when we were visiting you. Please pass on our condolences to the family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mum - there's so many who didn't know him directly but knew of him or had met him, he was just that kind of person

      Delete

Everyone has something valuable to say and I would love for you to share your thoughts