For Paul…

How to begin to express a lifetime of love and memories,
The pain is still new, my whole being still reeling from the loss of you who meant so much… who was so full of life, and laughter and promise...

From the day you were born, and I saw my new “live doll” to play with and dress up
-to share the pain and joy of growing up…
I knew I would love you forever.
You came into our world and everything changed
Suddenly there was more compassion, more laughter, more Sunshine
I had a little brother !
(Not to mention that in your pram you were just the right height to purloin lollies from the corner shop…)

For that I thank you Paulie.

We played on the beach, built forts and blanket cubbies…
I roped you into makeshift plays and pretend bands…
Teased you mercilessly... then shamed - cuddled your hurt feelings better…
We made conspiracies to persuade our parents for this or that…
You forgave me for accidentally giving you 6 stitches that time..
I forgave you for destroying my Michael Jackson vinyl’s
You forgave me for all the falls whilst trying to teach you to ride on my horse when you really didn’t want to
I forgave you for spying on my best friend Rosie and me skinny dipping…
You forgave me for the torture I handed out when I caught you…
We ALWAYS forgave each other for ALL our stupid mistakes, and pettiness over the years…

For that I Thank you Paulie…

When you went to Boarding school, I cried…
You cried the day I turned up with Chocolate cake and your favourite
Salmon and Beetroot sandwiches when you were sick that time…
I felt and understood the pain of being away from family
And tried to be there for you when you needed me,
In turn I know you always tried to be there for me when I needed you…

For that I Thank you Paulie…

Then you were all grown up,
For a while you shared a place with Jeff and I,
We had so many fun times,
We laughed till we cried, many many times..
And, when sad… cried till we laughed it better,
I taught you to cook,
You taught me to always check the water levels in my old car..
We taught each other anything we could…

For that I Thank You Paulie…

You met Fiona, the love of your life,
And I watched your beautiful romance blossom,
And I was incredibly happy for you,
She made you laugh, and made you cry,
And together you were unbeatable,
travelled together, bought apartments together...
ran away together and got married in Alaska in the snow

It filled me with joy to see you grow from wild young thing
into a man in love and filled with happiness

For that I Thank You Paulie…

Through our grown up lives we shared so many nights and days full of Laughter
And some full of pain...

The sadness of Jeff’s Dad passing… You sharing Jeff’s pain over a bottle of single malt…

You looking after a very nervous Jeffie on our wedding day….then crying with me in happiness at our wedding…

Your many many glorious BBQ’s- with the Barbie Master at the helm…Happy and smiling, laughing your big raucous laugh…..a truly marvellous sight to behold…

The long lunches, quick coffees… phone chats…

Me worrying about you on your (seemingly endless) holidays…..The joy of catching up and hearing all about it when you were safe and home.

The trauma of watching your newborn nephew and Godson
fighting for his life in Intensive Care…The party and BBQ (of course) to celebrate his making it …

The passion and total commitment to everything you did… most especially to your flying career… the pride we all felt at you passing all your ATPL subjects, and gaining your first RTP Captain’s position…

Through the highs and the lows, you were ALWAYS there with Love and Support – I hope I was equally there for you my darling little brother…

For that I Thank You Paulie…

I cannot believe you have been taken from us in this world
I know in this life I will never see your beautiful smiling face again,
Your soft brown eyes filled with tears of laughter or sadness…
Never again experience your grumpy bum moods, nor your kindness and patience with my son...
Nor hear your voice filled with excitement, bursting with good news…or trying to catch me out with one of the many fake accents… Forever I will be expecting a call from you.

I know you are warm and safe now, keeping watch till we all meet again
So Please Paulie know how much I loved you in this life, and how much I Thank You for being such a lovely and loving brother......and how sorry I am if I ever failed you....I promise that when we meet again I will never ever be too busy to make you Pumpkin pies or Salmon and beetroot sandwiches…

 

Thank you for a lifetime of beautiful memories... through them you will live on

- forever, in my heart.

With much love and many tears of sorrow – your sister Kim