365 Days, Day 212

Forbidden things have a secret charm (Publius Cornelius Tacitus)

We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open (Jawaharlal Nehru)

For Christmas, Hanlie sent me a beautiful charm bracelet inside a little pouch bag – with a letter which I am copying out below:

To my dearest sister,

This little bag with all its pouches is to allow you to take all your favourite jewellery pieces with you when you travel.

I am also starting a charm bracelet to which I can add a special piece of memory each year.

When I saw the boot I could not but help think of you and how you love [boots]. When I told your kids about it, they immediately recalled your distress when taking Douglas to hospital without shoes*.

The heart is to remind you that you hold a very special place in mine.

The bag is because you love shopping [!] and the dragonfly is to remind you of summer in SA with dragonflies mating over the swimming pools**.

You made me cry, Hanlie. You sought out each of these little charms for me and put them in a bag with little pouches and wrote me a letter. I was really touched by your words and the thought that went into this gesture. Thank you, Hanlie. You have a very special place in my heart too.

It is our words and deeds that make us charming to our family and friends.

No one else can be a man or woman exactly like you. No one else can embody your soul, or project your magic or have your specific curiosity. Part lover, part artist, part god, we were born to rock the world and feel our way into each others hearts (Gabrielle Roth – 5Rhythms®)

*When I was about 20, I was at mom and dad’s house one summer day. My brother, Doug was in the garage working on something. He came rushing into the house holding one of his hands up in the other and said, “Please get me to hospital now!” I rushed with him to the car and we sped to the hospital emergency room. He had cut off the top of his middle finger in a planing machine. It was only when we were sitting at the hospital that I realised I was wearing tiny white shorts and tiny top and NO SHOES! You must understand that for me, one of greatest nightmares is being out in a public place without shoes. When I related the story to my children years later, the fact that I even mentioned “no shoes” in the midst of blood and gore and the utmost pain Doug was experiencing, was to them quite remarkable. So I haven’t quite lived this down. How could you be so uncaring? What happened to the top of his finger? Is it still in Grandad’s garage? What did they do? Did he cry? Sorry Doug! I do love you and I was very caring and concerned about you. SO concerned was I that I did go out without shoes. I was quite capable in an emergency – I learnt this about myself that day.

**Nina our beloved Houdini dog, used to go hysterical when it was dragonfly mating season. She would run round and round the swimming pool barking a high-pitched shout at the lovers hovering over the water forever just out of her reach. It drove her insane!

Now as I take my leave for today, I give you all this Irish blessing:

May God grant you always...

A sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you,

a sheltering Angel so nothing can harm you.

Laughter to cheer you. Faithful friends near you.

And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you.

(Irish Blessing)