I’m in Holland (officially The Netherlands) at the moment.
I was planning to be here later in the year. Unfortunately I’m here early because last week my grandma, Oma Han Kloos, passed away very suddenly from a stroke, at age 78. It is difficult for us that we couldn’t say goodbye, but we’re happy she did not have to suffer through a long illness, rehabilitation or nursing homes. May she rest in peace.
This is what I have written to read at the funeral today. Translated from Dutch so a bit wonky:
I didn’t grow up with my grandma nearby because I lived in Australia from age 5 to 14, and that was of course harder on her than it was on me, her only granddaughter, because I didn’t know any better.
Of course I do have some memories, and photos. We visited Madurodam before we left Holland. And she arrived in Australia the day before my 7th birthday and brought me a doll that I still own.
But the last few years, everything changed. I moved back to Australia after living in Holland in my teenage years and seeing Oma a little more often of course.
Now we’ve become close with help from the internet.
We emailed, spoke and saw each other via video chat on skype, and both took a lot of photos and uploaded those to flickr and left comments.
With big thanks to SeniorWeb.nl and Oma’s independence. As long as I can remember she’s had to be independent. Mobile phones, programming tv and video, travelling to Australia, etc etc.
Often there are complaints that the internet creates superficial relationships. My relationship with my grandma proves the opposite, and for people separated by distance, whether it’s 24 hours in an airplane or a few hours in the car, I believe it’s a great way to stay in contact and even to become closer.
I’ve had many messages expressing sympathy from friends in Australia, who have never met Oma, but often saw her messages on flickr and facebook, and heard my stories about her. Cyber Oma was very cool!
Change is inevitable. I think Oma is a good example of why it’s good to change with the times and learn new things, and that it’s still possible at age 78.
Unfortunately change also means we now have to come to terms with the fact that so suddenly and unexpectedly, Oma isn’t here anymore. May she rest in peace.
