dreaming of my niece mackena

i often dreamt of you this year and the life you'd have

I didn’t think your Aunty Lynny and I would get to have kids.

Given my condition and my eventual illness, I knew we probably wouldn’t. 

When I first met and held you,  you wrapped your tiny hand around my finger and looked me in the eyes.

I knew you would be something special, a La and a Brett.

You are going to be so well looked after.

I am sad knowing I wouldn’t get to see you grow up tall and pat Aunty Lynny on the head, be multi-lingual, smart, capable and full of beans and independence. 

I have dreamed about times when you, your Aunty Lynny and I would go on a fun road trip adventure down the Great Ocean Road.

A few jelly-snakes for the road trip down.

Your Aunty Lynny and Uncle Dug’s favourite.

Some spring rolls from your bà to keep us content and remind you of family. 

Running on the beach away from the waves and feeling like you can fly high being held up by your Aunty Lynny and I. 

Teaching you your Uncle Dug’s chicken schnitzel, running from the sea to the sand.

I want the greatest life ever for you MakMak and know that your Uncle Dug loved you from the moment he met you. 

from the archives

pieces I shared and wrote that weren’t sent via email.

📁 https://dugald.substack.com/p/the-last-two-letters-that-i-received

📁 https://dugald.substack.com/p/whats-it-going-to-be-today

📁 https://dugald.substack.com/p/a-poem-story-i-wrote-when-i-was-17

📁 https://dugald.substack.com/p/sausage-rolls-in-bed

📁 https://dugald.substack.com/p/esplanade-angel

📁 https://dugald.substack.com/p/waking-up-at-dawn-and-following-zephyr

📁 https://dugald.substack.com/p/bird-heart-boy-now-bird-heart-man

📁 https://dugald.substack.com/p/to-costa

📁 https://dugald.substack.com/p/a-question-from-the-dying

📁 https://dugald.substack.com/p/for-m

📁 https://dugald.substack.com/p/a-tiger-connection

📁 https://dugald.substack.com/p/lynn-love

📁 https://dugald.substack.com/p/after-a-hang-with-the-fish-at-the

📁 https://dugald.substack.com/p/to-neski

📁 https://dugald.substack.com/p/the-will-and-my-spirit-to-live-is

📁 https://dugald.substack.com/p/naked-in-an-egg-chair-in-the-ocean

📁 https://dugald.substack.com/p/dass-21

📁 https://dugald.substack.com/p/a-catch-up-with-my-neurosurgeon

📁 https://dugald.substack.com/p/driveway-cricket