I remember...

Giddo, my maternal Grandfather.. Abdul Munim is his name.. The best man I’ve ever met!

No words will ever describe how he was; none will do him justice, but I’ll try..

I remember very well how kind, gentle, giving & cheerful he was.. He’d smile all the time & sing happy songs.. He’d make up songs for us & hum along..

I remember him being around when growing up, wether he’d come to us in Abu Dhabi, a city he really liked, or us visiting him in the summertime.. He is a huge part of me & I of him.. I’m his first grandchild.. Having his blood is my honor & pride :)

I remember how he’d hold my hand so tight whenever we’d go out for a picnic or a ride.. He called me “princessa” & “sanioora” & would always make me feel like one..

I remember that summer at the beach, when I was around 10 or 11, a friend invited me to her birthday party, & Giddo wouldn’t let me go alone.. “Giddo, it’s ok, Daddy said I can go, it’s just around the corner on the beach.” He came along with me & spent the whole time keeping a very close eye on me.. And it never felt bad, I somehow felt special everytime he was there watching out for me :)

I remember his napkin, cologne & cleanliness.. I remember how he’d let me play with his shaving brush as carelessly as I wanted.. I’d soak it in soapy foam and stroke & paint his face so fearlessly..

I remember how every time before he would use the bathroom, he’d say “the bathroom is available now, any one needs to go?”.. He was just caring like that, even though there were three bathrooms in the house!

I remember his love for meat & fruits.. He’d call me to join him in the kitchen after lunch, behind Grandma’s back, not having the patience to wait for her to chop it.. He’d slice melon & pig out with me as much as we wanted to.. Melon juice drops would roll down his arm & wet his dry elbows.. We were the happiest people in the world ;)

I remember how he’d peel every bean in our Egyptian beans dish (foool).. And how he’d enjoy his red Egyptian tea glass so much, that I’d sometimes be jealous of it.. Yes glass, he wouldn’t like to have it in mugs.. Glass, where his eyes & soul can enjoy before his mouth :)

I remember how he’d always stop the cotton candy and cactus fruit (roaming around) sellers & get us wether we wanted or not.. Get us a lot!

I remember him taking me to the market nearby on his shoulders & would never let me down until I say so.. he’d buy me & my siblings whatever we wished for, before even saying it! He won’t take us home until we’d had enough.. 

I remember him taking us to the park & would never say ‘enough’ or ‘stop’.. He’d watch us on the trampoline all through the evening, never looking away.. Looking at his happy face would give me more courage to jump higher & make more flips in the air.. He’d always be impressed & let me know that I’m amazing!

I remember how kind he was to the maintenance workers & security guards.. How he’d offer them food & drinks & laugh along with them, when even not having any language in common..

I remember how he’d put his hand on his chest as a way of thanking, greeting or just putting his heart out for you :) I guess Ertugrul & his gang stole it from him ;)

I rememeber how he always cared so much about our nanny’s well-being.. He’d offer her a good Christian friend from back home if she wanted to..

I remember how he hated waking anyone up from sleep, & how he considered it as a holy state :)

I remember the first marriage proposals & how crazy he’d go not believing any one is ever good enough for his princess :D

I remember how he fell sick & had an open heart surgery.. He was in so much pain, but would trust whatever I say.. How there was water in his lungs & how weak his heart got.. I am a huge believer that it was a very overused heart.. He loved & cared way too much, about so many people..

I remember how we discovered his melanoma.. How it started from his toe & how slowly it was eating his skin up & finding its way to his inner organs..

I still can’t get over his death.. Whenever I meet a new person, I can’t introduce the real me to them, with a huge part of it missing today..

I told Z a alot about him.. Hope she doesn’t foget Giddo Men’im..

You are my hero Giddo.. You are my favorite story.. You are my favorite memory..

Allah yerhamak habeeby!

Yours,

Essanioora

"كل حاجه ناقصه حاجه و إنت مش جنبي حبيبي"

~شرين~