FAMILIES

FAMILIES. (12^th June, 2011)

Today I felt very nostalgic.   I think it was because 41 years ago in June my father died the night he handed over his chain-of-office as the Pretoria East Rotary President.  He died at the age of 52.    Last night my brother, Richard, handed over his chain-of-office as District Governor of KZN Rotary at a gala function at the Elangeni Hotel in Durban.   He has completed a very successful year visiting and counseling every single one of the Rotary Clubs in Kwa Zulu Natal.   He and his wife, Moira, have made the most amazing friends.   They have linked up with so many like minded people in their quest to reach out to the wider community.   Just as my father did!   Had he lived longer he would have gone on to do great things for Rotary and for our country.   He was a man cut down in the prime of his life and one wonders WHY?

We celebrated Father’s Day today as my oldest son leaves for Holland tomorrow and will not be here next weekend to celebrate with his dad.   It was very special to be together.   To watch Rob surfing off Addington Beach, a new sport he is pursuing.   To walk along the Promenade with Bryan and Robynne while pushing Matthew, our grandson, in the pram.    Special to have Kerri join us at the fabulous ‘Moya on the Pier’ for lunch.  I always think of the many South African families who are parted, so many families whose children and grandchildren live overseas and who communicate by Skype and only see each other so rarely.  

I give thanks for the days and weeks we have to be together because who knows what waits around the corner for us?  Kerri takes a group of her Art students over to Europe on a cultural tour in two weeks time and Rob flies to Australia and New Zealand in August for the World Rugby Cup and who knows what wonderful opportunities await him there?    Greg and I have mini holiday breaks on a Saturday afternoon and Sunday when he is off and we have lots of fun planning them.   Each day brings a new challenge but each minute lived to its fullest makes for a wonderful memory tomorrow.

 I give thanks for being sixty-something and still living!