Jakkelsgif , 'geleende storie

NÁ die seisoen van konfetti en trou-albums en katelbreektyd ontwaak 'n nuwe seisoen in die grootste gros huwelike. Dis die tyd wanneer kinders inbars en alles omgedolwe word. Geld, tyd en rus is min. Vurige twiste ennoord-suid-opinies is volop. Wat eens lekker geruik het, word 'n stank.Wat mooi was, word afskuwelik. Wat slim geklink het, wordbeterweterigheid. Soetlemoene verander in bitterappeltjies.Dan, so 20 of wat jaar ná die konfetti-dag, wanneer die kuikens hoendersword en in hul eie weiland begin skrop, daag 'n ander seisoen op. Jeuktyd,kraptyd, byttyd, skaaftyd. Dis dan wanneer die huweliksbed se voeë beginmeegee en die wiekelende konstellasie dreig om vloer toe te tuimel.Ná jare van geldstryd en kinders grootsukkel, sit die eens uitspattig-gelukkige huwelikspaar met mekaar opgeskeep. Bykans vreemdelinge. Ofvyande. Buitentoe lyk alles wel. Almal glo dit gaan góéd met ons. ("Ons"is 'n versamelnaam vir wie ook al aan die versameling wil behoort). Onshét alles en ons lag en kuier, sing kerkkoor, stap met die hond, houvakansie, koop saam-saam kruideniersware. Oënskynlik die perfekteverbintenis.Maar agter die voordeur waar niemand sien of hoor nie, staan die pitsweer'n goudgeel punt. Barstens gelade met sarkasme, sinisme, ondankbaarheid,erbarmloosheid, humorloosheid. Ons is áltyd gereed om te verskil en tebeskuldig; te pik en te amputeer. Ysstiltes en 'n vrot atmosfeer is aandie orde van die dag.En daar hang ons in die slagyster. Skei kan ons nie, want dis 'n geval vanmy kombers en jou matras en daar lê die ding. Na 'n huweliksberader wíl onsnie, want niemand het energie vir 'n ellelange dermuitrygery nie. Dan maardeurdruk, hoe gallerig ook al. Solank niemand ontdek wat agter diegordynvoerings aangaan nie. Om te kompenseer vir die yskaslewe, pak onsallerhande vernietigende handvuurtjies aan vir hitte. Affairs, drank,pille, pornografie, koopsiekte, vreetsiekte, verenigings,oorgodsdienstigheid, werkoholisme. En noem maar op.Ek en die ou gryse het al deur baie driwwe geswem. Enkeldiepte,borsdiepte, en soms watergetrap. Dat ons mekaar nie jakkalsgif ingegee hetnie, bly 'n mirakel. En toe, tydens een van ons doodbliksem-gevegte, komons op die kwessie sowel as die oplossing af. Ek sê nie dit sal vir almalwerk nie, maar vir ons het dit.Die kwessie: Spasie. In sy wese bly die mens 'n eenling. Hy wil 'n sirkelom hom kan trek; 'n spasie waaroor hy, en hy alleen, baasskap het. En diehuwelik het 'n rare manier om die mens sy eenlingskap te ontneem. Dis 'ncliché om te sê die huwelik is 'n eenwording van twee mense. Want tweemense kan nooit één word as elke eenling nie 'n heel mens op sy eie isnie. En as die mens van sy spasie beroof word, raak hy soos 'n hondsdolgedierte wat alles byt.Die oplossing: spasie. Só baklei ek en die ou gryskop doerie tyd amper totby die bottel jakkalsgif. Uit beboosdheid trek hy met klere, boeke,lessenaar en spanners na die spaarkamer op die boonste verdieping. En dáárbly hy vandag nog. Wat destyds 'n ek-bliksem-jou- sommer-dood-aksie was,het geblyk die antwoord te wees.Sy kamer is syne. My kamer is myne. Hy kan snork en televisie kykwanneer hy wil. Ek kan snags my bedliggie aansit en slaapkouse brei asiets my ry. Ek kan dwars oor die bed slaap, en hy kan besluit hoeveelkomberse hy oor hom wil hê. Niemand besweet niemand, en daar is nooit 'nnagtelike gestry nie. En dis salig om uitgerus wakker te word sonder 'nkierie teen jou rug. Of sonder 'n redeloos beneukte vrou langs jou. Diesaligste bly die op- en afsluipery met die trap. Soos outydse court.Sondagmiddag gaan lê ek in sy arm. Of ek skrik middelnag wakker as hyfluistervra of hy agter my rug kan lê, want hy verlang na my. Ek SMS boontoedat ek my man in my kooi soek, en ek dra sy brekfis trap-op en gaan sê hom hy's my koning.Nou se dae kan nie ek óf hy onthou waar ons die jakkalsgif gebêre het nie.Want ek het my kombers en hy het sy matras. En nêrens lê 'n ding nie.


Dit is geskryf deur Annelie Botes

I am not there ...

Do not stand at my grave and weep; I am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn's rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there, I did not die.

The Power of Kindness

I found this beautiful post at From Melanie's Home to Yours, do pop over and leave a comment for her.


The Power of Kindness

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd." I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on. As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes.

My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. They really should get a life." He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play football on Saturday with me and my friends. He said yes. We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him. And my friends thought the same of him.Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, "Darn boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!" He just laughed and handed me half the books.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football scholarship. Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak. Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than me and all the girls loved him! Boy, sometimes I was jealous. Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. "Thanks," he said.

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began."Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years - your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach... but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story." I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. "Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable." I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment.

I saw his mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize its depth. Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life for better or for worse. God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way.

Posted by Melanie, Thanks for letting me post this here
Until nexttime
Rina

Memoirs of a Little Girl

"Little girl"She grinned mischievously to herself as she thought how apt the intentionally demeaning label had been. Barely a meter and a half in height, many had mistaken her for one much below her number of years, but this did not hamper her feisty spirit one bit. Instead it served only to strengthen her resolve.

For Amanda, these last few years had been trying. Denial a few years previously dashed the hope of her and her family to begin their new life in Canada. After two years of waiting, it was heartbreaking to hear that things would not be as she had dreamed, as her family had dreamed.The restless current of the ocean caressed the African shores. It moved with her, consoling her injured soul. Time was needed to heal; time was granted. But the slumber could not last forever. It was once again time to rise to the challenge and fight towards the dream of a brighter future.

More than three years later, and finally things begin to fall into place. Last week Wednesday was one of those defining hurdles; the last of which needed crossing. The blood had been taken the previous week. It was not an enjoyable experience by a long shot. After moments of prodding the nurse declared, "I can't find a vein, let me see your other arm."Amanda complied with her wishes, laying her right arm across the table. More prodding ensued; a sigh from the nurse. Amanda was almost positive the thought playing through her head at that moment was, "These darn little people with their little veins!"Finally the needle was inserted. Fascinated, the little girl stared at the dark crimson liquid as it pulsated against the edge of the transparent vial. "That's pieces of me," she thought, "I'm being placed in a bottle." It was a disconcerting experience and not one she was eager to repeat.

The X-rays went off with little excitement. Fair enough, the block could not be lowered quiet as low as was needed to accommodate her diminutive figure, but that was hardly unexpected. And now she lay in the doctors office in just her underwear and a gown. She had already urinated into the bottle, always the highlight in the trip to the doctor. The doctor proceeded to poke and prod in what Amanda assumed would be strategic places. What he was looking for was beyond her; alien implants from a recent abduction?"Touch your toes"Amanda grimaced as she replied, "Not going to happen." As she bent forward in what she knew was a futile attempt, the doctor replied, "That as far as you go?""Yup, " she had never had the gift of flexibility."Don't worry, it won't fail you for Canada." Even though she doubted something as trivial as that would dash her hopes yet again, the humor was comforting.

The eye test was next, quick and easy. And then her height measured; the doctor was kind enough to give her an extra two centimeters she never knew she had, 1.52m... wow...And the doctors scale was without a doubt 2kg out! With the final hurdle out of the way, the wait is almost over. All that is left now is for the little girl to place her life into two suitcases; suitcases so large she can easily fit in one... and zip it closed.... --------------------
Anything I've ever done that was ultimately worthwhile initially scared me to death .... from the SACanada forum.

Roses ...

Before marriage, a man declares that he would lay down his life to serve you; after marriage, he won't even lay down his newspaper to talk to you.
Helen Rowland

Ag die mooi laeveld dae ....

Ek onthou nog die mooie Barberton daar in die laeveld, loop nog so af in die straat in my gedagtes. Oorkant die straat het Tannie Nel gebly, haar gesig kan ek nie meer so lekker onthou nie, want sien ek was nog nie eers skool toe nie toe ons daar gebly het. Maar ek onthou daar agter in haar Backyard was 'n groot moerbei boom met sukke groot vet swart vruggies. My ma het altyd geraas as ek moes en die goed op my klere kry. Ek het 'n boks gehad met sywurms en het altyd blare gepluk daar by Tannie Nel. Dan kyk ek hoe kneers hulle aan die blare en later spin hulle mooi huisies om in te kruip.

Oom Jock het verder af in die sraat gebly, die tannie het 'n mongoltjie dogter gehad en ek het baie by haar gespeel. Vandag word hulle beskou as Hemels kinders geleen van ons mooi Vader. Oom Jock en my Pa het belang gestel in "Radio Hams" is dit die regte woord daarvoor? Ag julle weet mos wat ek bedoel ... buite in hul tuin was die lang pal met baie drade styfgespan om die ding optehou. Terwyl my Ma by die Tannie kuier is die mans daar in die kamer besig met die Oom se Radio goed. Die tannie het altyd lekker soet koekies gebak.

Ons het so aan die voet van die berg gebly, die kable karretjies het so oor die huise gehang want sien hulle het iets gemyn daar in die berg, miskien was die asbestos of iets. Dan word dit in die karretjies gelaai en dan tot onder by die myn gebring. Ons groot bruin rifrig hond Oubaas was agter vasgemaak aan 'n lang kettang maar hy kon die hele agterplaas vol loop, dis nou as Pa by die werk was.

Toe ek so klein was het my ma hulle my vertel my boeties was daar op die berg hulle sterte was nog nie afgekap nie (dis nou die bobbejanntjies)... sien ek is die enigste kind. Ek raak so upset as hulle die grass brand daar op die berg. Die vuur brand dan die boobejaantjies. Ag ouers kan tog so baie jok vir mens .... Maar die mooi rooi vlamme so in 'n lang ry daar op die berg, kruip so stadig vorentoe en die ruik van die grass brande is vars ... vandag nog is ek mal oor vure, net ek maak hulle in 'n kagel of donga.

Ag ek wens ek het fotos gehad om julle te wys .....

Until nexttime
Rina

PS. Flat White het my bekommerd gemaak or the asbes en toe gaan Google ek gou, gelukkig was dit goud wat gemyn is.