3D REFLECTIONS OF LIFE

Nazeer, Christo and Sasha are ready to do the walk. We were there to participate in the Community Chest Twilight Team run this year. We wanted to be part of the fun. I should have planned my outfit better, but like many, I am always caught napping. However, I made sure that my outfit was symbolic.  I wore a red sweater to symbolize World Aids Day Awareness, a handwritten poster which read " Leave our women and children alone", as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence and a spiky, blue wig and red cheeks as part of the fun element. My funky blue wig matched Christo's oversized sunglasses!  At the start, we counted down from 33 because the Community Chest Twilight Run celebrated its 33rd anniversary this year. Then off we went, literally strolling for the entire five kilometers. Lorenzo Davids, the CEO at Community Chest,  chatting to the waiting crowds. My children made the most of the walk. They looked for any opportunity to wis...

The Lifesavers' army tent. Our Kleinmond camping village is quiet this morning. The blue flag status beach has treacherous back currents and our volunteer lifesaver neighbours have already left to do their duty.   About 9:00 the two young campers, Erin and Seth, were playing cricket while granddad Linden was packing up. Now and then Linden would join them and celebrate when either boy hits a four or a six.   Both Erin and Seth have long, golden locks. Erin came over to chat with me.   "We are growing our hair for cancer. We need to grow it to 24cm before we cut it".   The homeschooled brothers had learned about cancer and how people help those with cancer. Erin was the one who decided he wanted to grow his hair and then donate his locks. Seth followed suit. Erin and Seth volunteered to grow their hair that they will donate to Cancer patients.     About 11:00 Christo and friends came to our site to collect the kettle, mugs, cutlery and milk. They did...

There in the Groote Kerk in Cape Town, Frankie read the notice appealing to volunteers to knit jerseys for the Jerzy4kidz project 2014. The jerseys were for the Steinthal Children's Home in Tulbagh.   "That's interesting," thought Frankie. "I will gather my friends and we can knit for this worthy cause."   Quietly the weeks slipped by. Then one Sunday after the church service, Frankie brought a large bag filled with jerseys. These jerseys were given to Pierre who had to pass them on to Sharon who had to take them to Gwynn. Something like the Chicken Licken story, but in our story the sky was not falling down. Our sky had a Frankie galaxy, sending rays of light to needy children.   We are now supposed to have a "lived happily ever after" ending. That is, if only Frankie had forgotten about the church weekly bulletin where she saw the Jerzy4kidz notice.   The weeks went by. Winter dragged on and Spring struggled to make an entrance. The win...

How often don't we work with people for years then we don't even know who they truly are? I am in the same boat. I often do not have time to bond with my colleagues from other sections in our district. Besides my being located at one of our satellite offices, I rarely make contact with many of them because we have so many different sections. Take for example, my colleagues in the corporate services component, the ones who help to ensure that our schools receive financial management support. Now and then we see one another and exchange pleasantries. On one occasion I arrived very early for a meeting with a colleague in the Corporate Services Department.. The other colleagues and I started chatting about all kinds of things - the weather, our children, life at the coalface and life in general. The mood was jovial and as time passed, we became more relaxed. Eventually I had to run out of their office to be on time for my meeting. That pleasant exchange we had changed the d...