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.