Goodbyes are the hardest thing to deal with in life. Whether they be friends, family, or someone you just met. Goodbye is that one thing that can bid someone a fond farewell on the hopes that you see that person again soon. Maybe someday it’ll be, “Hello.” However, there are times you never get that chance to say goodbye. Today is one of those days for me. I wish it wasn’t so, but the day that I was hoping to never hear has come. My grandma has been the strongest woman I have ever known. Her being gone now is a matter of disbelief for me because she was such a strong Hawaiian woman. She was someone who didn’t take shit from anyone. Sometimes I wonder if I’m so stubborn because of her. You could just tell that she had this amazing strength no one could compare to. In her last years, I no one could see that she grew tired and that strength was subsiding. However, she stayed stubborn anyways. Of the many things I loved about my grandmother was that she didn’t care what anybody thought. She had a strong will with God. God was there for her every step of the way no matter what the situation. She believed if she prayed hard enough God would be there to help you along. I’m glad that she was there to teach me some of the values that she held dear. It hurts so much to write down how I’m feeling right now but I know that in the end it is what she wanted. She was in so much pain the last time I saw her that I could tell she didn’t want to deal with it anymore. I don’t blame her though. She’s lived an amazingly long life.
I just wish I had the chance to say goodbye.
Goodbye Fanny Ki’a’ina-Chong.
