X-mas tree of life...

 

my tree of knowledge (i found the seedling growing infront of the library)... 

this afternoon is unity’s wedding in stellenbosch. it’s beautiful out in the winelands on a small estate with few invited guests. her mother mrs. gordon was my standard 4 teacher & her colleagues my primary school teachers mrs. daniels (who stressed the importance of reading); mrs. meyer (my std. 1 teacher who’s always asking about my art) - they behave as softly naughty as a gang of adolescent schoolgirls; mrs. schmidt & her daughter, fiona; mr. leukes (my std. 5 teacher, who’s always swagger & debonair) is the m.c. tanya king, who’s dance partner i was back in 1989 for her debutante ball drags me to the dance floor for a waltz. lawrianne catches the bouquet & i catch the garter (i guess now i’m a knight of the garter).

home recording with siphelo a.k.a. “lil sip”.

year end party for talk & tea. carol, her young author nephew, ky & his mother, doreen with carol hugo, old school teacher, alex basson & marlon (both mountain men) give talks on reading & culture.
Friends Of Strand-South Library: TNT 2010 End of year party: "The weekly Talk & Tea ladies gathered at the library with invited guests, speakers and public to celebrate their holiday closing. Carol ..."...

my mother & eye watch the final episode of nip/tuck together.

my grandmother’s funeral service.

her body is wheeled into our lounge & my mother, me & sha (my grandmother’s great-grandchild by my estranged cousin, natasha) stand to meet the mourners by the open casket.

family from far out of town. my grandmother grew up in williston. meagan & johan (my aunt “nana” ’s whom she raised) come out from athlone. dion & carol also come.

both reverend arendse & my cousin, alvano thank me for taking care of her in her final days. i ride in the hearse. the driver is a retired undertaker & very talkative.

it’s very windy. the clay ground is difficult for the grave diggers to work with. she’s laid to rest in a family plot close to her son, johannes. the people return to our house for tea & lunch. my mother & aunts lorraine & yvonne run the kitchen.

all the children hang out in her old room because that’s where the cake is held. ‘superman returns’ on tv. we’re all tired after the family leaves.

my mother & I drive around organising for tomorrow’s funeral. we drop by bourne & young undertakers in elsies river with my grandmother’s ancient, faithfully paid-up membership books. the 2 ladies are very friendly. this evening all the aunts are gathered to organise who is to make what food for tomorrow. ‘batman begins’ & ‘constantine’ on tv. uncle errol asks to borrow our oven to bake a chocolate cake for tomorrow’s reception. one cake burns on top & the whole house smells like chocolate.

memorial service for my passed grandmother @ our house led by mr sinden, the former librarian’s husband.

treat the dogs with anti-flea & -lice dip. my mother & i visit mrs koopman & uncle kosie to arrange for flowers for the funeral service coming saturday.

my cousin dillon, yvonne & abdullah’s son’s matric ball this evening. the matriculants in his street parade up & down the road dressed up. my family, almost all the cousins & aunts are gathered @ yvonne’s.

the household goes through my grandmother's belongings to sort who keeps what & whatever to give away to whom. my mother decides that most of the clothes will go to the poorer family in williston. i find my high school tie in her closet.

my ouma is vanoggend oorlede. my ma sê my vroegoggend nadat sy die oproep van HH hospitaal gekry het. ek’s deur die slaap en dink sy lag soos gewoonlik vroegoggend by my kamerdeur oor iets wat die kat gedoen het, dan kom ek agter deur die slaperigheid dat sy snik.

my ma, godfrey & ek sit vir ure by haar lyk in die saal voordat die begrafnis ondernemer kom. my sister & haar kêrel slaap by die huis – ons kon hulle nie wakker kry nie na hulle heelnag partytjie: gister was ricardo se verjaarsdag. die verkeer oppad na die hospital hou almal op vanwee ‘n musiekkonsert op ‘n naby plaas. die mense rondom sê sy het rustig gegaan. sy lyk rustig. dit lyk asof sy nog asemhaal. ‘n jong xhosa kamerhelp – dieselfde een vir wie my ma by ons laaste besoek vir koffie gevra het - gee vir ons koffie.

dis vreemd maar my ouma het altyd die laaste paar jaar gekla dat die huis vol stof is, al was dit silwerskoon. die laaste paar dae is daar stof oor alles van al die gebouery.

namiddag besoek yvonne; let (my ma se niggie en ouma se naam genoot - aletta - en peetkind); haar dogter, carmen; natasha; melanie; alvano & eunett. godfrey bedien almal soos in ‘n vyfster hotel.

"Thank You" sms reply to sean...

"My condolences,im sori dude.u kp well now." sms, sean...

"Ek het Marlin se tweeling vandag gesien. Hulle is te oulik. Ann" sms...

she's groggy, near comatose when my mother & ricardo from work & i visit @ hh hospital in the evening...