The party girl became a mourning girl.

My grandma passed away yesterday evening. I am sad, but at the same time I am relieved, because she was suffering.

I am really upset because I couldn't get a flight to get there in time for the funeral.

In the Brazilian tradition, a dead person should be buried no more than 24 hours later...As it is, it wasn't possible for me to get there.

I talked to my mom around 3:30pm, and she said that my grandma was not doing well, but she would keep me posted. Around 5:30pm, she called and she said: "I don't know if she will get through the night". I felt really bad, especially for my grandpa, because he is completely lost without her. At 6:43pm, she called me saying that she had just passed.

When I talked to my mom at 5:30pm, I started to look for a flight, but I couldn’t find any. I even called some travel agency, but there wasn’t anything available.

She was the sweetest person and the strongest at the same time. She was the older sister of 7 siblings. Her brothers and her sisters that are still alive always looked up to her. Everything that was wrong with the family, she was always the first one who knows. Even my grandpa’s family, looked up for her. My grandpa was an only child and all his cousins have them in the highest consideration.

She had only one son and one daughter, 6 grandchildren, one fret-grandson and great-granddaughter on the way.

She was never the typical grandma who left her grandchildren to do whatever they want. This wasn't allowed on her grandma book. She loved to say that she was a little sick, but she was fine. She cooked so well and she always had food for an army on her house. Her pasta with chicken is just WONDERFUL. I will miss my phone conversations with her, the tons of coffee that we used to drink together when I visit them, all the advices and guidance that she always gave me. I can’t bear the thought that I won’t see her again.

I feel guilty that I am not there to say good-bye to her, but there is nothing I can do!!!

Fabiola