Countdown

As the date of my departure looms closer, it feels like time is moving by even more quickly than it normally does.

The excruciating process of farewells has begun.  As painful as it is, to part from those who have been in my life for a long while, it is also heartwarming.  One forgets, with the passage of time, the part we play in each others' lives - in my case, friends, of course, but also the families and the children I have worked with.  It is so gratifying to know that I made an important contribution in their development.

15 years ago I was referred to twin girls born prematurely.  Their parents were Pakistani and were fairly new in this country.  The girls were diagnosed as failure to thrive, along with hypersensitivity, retinopathy, delayed development -  the problems of prematurity.  I saw them once a week (cuts had been made, and we could no longer see the children twice or three times a week.) The mother, of course, was overwhelmed.  She had no support  as her family were in Pakistan.  The dad worked  at a garage 7 days a week.  Slowly I began to really enjoy my visits. The mother cooperated in their treatment.  We had long talks, and the girls  smiled when I walked in.  They had lustrous black hair and lovely eyes.  One day I walked in - I didn't see them.  The mother pointed to the swing on the balcony - and there were two hard boiled eggs!  On closer observation I saw it was the girls - the parents had shaved their heads completely!  Quite a few cultures did this before the age of one in the belief that the hair will be thicker and stronger.  As ever, I became quickly accustomed to anything.

Yesterday when I went to say goodbye I found were two lovely, thriving, articulate teenagers with shining long black hair. They are in high school after the 2 year covid hiatus. They are eager students and are already looking toward college.  The mom made a lovely henna design on my hand. I had made an imprint in their lives and she made an imprint on me. 

 I awoke this morning with a feeling of warmth and gratitude.  I played an important part in many lives, and if I weren't saying goodbye, I would not have realised this. My hand is a reminder.

So this process of letting go is bittersweet, but ultimately it 'sparks joy.'  (yes Marie Kondo, the decluttering expands to many aspects of our lives.) 

The End of an Era

 I was born in a country which was part of the Commonwealth.  

We were raised with singing God Save The Queen in morning hymns.  It was played in the bioscope.  We didn't have television in South Africa, but the grainy footage in black and white of the coronation was shown in the bioscope.  I had colouring in books of the Royal family and their pets - the Corgis, and the Queen's horses. South Africa left the Commonwealth in 1961,  but our interest in the monarchy has not waned.  

And so this morning found me in Marshalls, looking at luggage when my phone chimed.  It was my sister, and her first words were "where are you?"    I knew something had happened and immediately my mind began clicking onto all the dreadful scenarios I could come up with.  

"The Queen died."   

And so we have reached the end of an era.