A coon posed with us for a group pic during intervalI have always been fond of children and go weak at the knees at the very sight of baby clothes! So you can imagine my excitement and glee when my friend, Shakeela recently gave birth to a baby girl. Keera van Vuuren is a healthy and beautiful bundle of joy, and shares features of both her parents – mum, Shakeela and dad, Quinton van Vuuren (pictured).
When I was younger, people used to always tell me to enjoy my days of being a child. When I stressed about school projects or tests, my parents told me that I had more important things coming in life to worry about, like paying accounts and earning a living. When I was 16, I couldn’t wait to be 18. When I was 18, I couldn’t wait to be 21. I always envied girls older than me. They seemed so independent, and I couldn’t wait to be just like them.
These days I find myself giving my younger cousins the same advice I was given when I was their age – to enjoy their days of being at school and to savour the little moments of still being a child. Life zooms past us so quickly that before we know it, we are laden with responsibilities and life-altering choices to make.
Feeling a bit nostalgic recently, I was just thinking how care free it was to be a child. I’d be dropped off at pre-primary, where my days were filled with painting, singing and playing on the jungle gyms. I didn’t have a care in the world – even my clothes were picked out for me everyday! Oh …what days of utter bliss! When I started school, my friends and I collected and swapped stickers during break time, and the most homework I got were colouring in or mini research assignments. Back then, my priorities were those of an average teenage girl. They have since changed and I am now more concerned about my career and interests as an adult woman.
When I am in the company of little children, I’m so intrigued by their inquisitive nature. Having recently spent some time with my three-year-old cousin, Tashil (pictured), I am still so amazed by his alertness to things around him. I’d look at him and wonder what the world looks like through his bright and eager eyes. In some strange way, I envy him. His mind is so pure and innocent and hasn’t yet been ‘brainwashed’ by propaganda portrayed in the media. As young as he is, he is so kind, sweet and considerate to those around him.
I have said time and time again that I wish he could stay the age he is now, because he really is the epitome of innocence. Sadly, as we grow older, our innocence as children is lost and we become immune to the atrocities surrounding us on a daily basis.
I’m so glad that I grew up with things like Bugs Bunny, colouring in books and wax crayons, yoyo’s and of course – the likes of Humpty Dumpty and Little Bo Peep. I was only introduced to computers during Primary school whereas today, children as young as 3 years are able to access and operate cellphones and computers.
There are days when I wish I could still be five – only because life was hassle free back then, and I had no concerns about world wars and the exchange rate. Above all, my mind was pollutant-free of discrimination and hatred. As much as I wish to turn back time, I can’t – but I guess I can always hold on to the fact that with all the problems in the world today, there was once a time when we were all oblivious to evil.
Both my parents are celebrating their birthdays this month, so to end off this month’s column, I’d like to wish the two most important people in my life a very Happy Birthday.
My aunt, Aurora / cousin, Trusha / late uncle, Dalpat (aka Dully)The month of February is a celebration of love! So I’d like to wish all readers a very Happy Valentines Day for the 14th. I hope you spoil that someone special in your life with an abundance of love and affection, although I’m sure you do that all year round, right?!
I’m dedicating this month’s column to my uncle, Dalpat Makan (pictured) who passed away on Christmas Eve. He was on holiday in the
We are a very tight-knit family, and this is the first time that we have had to deal with such a tragedy.
My uncle’s death has inadvertently forced me to look at life in a different light. To evaluate one’s life is certainly not an easy task. To ask who oneself is can prove to be even more challenging. I have begun to realize that there are bigger things to be concerned about, and most of the things that we obsess about are often materialistic.
I feel like we are so caught up in trivial things throughout the day, that we forget to step out of our busy lives and think about the finer things in life. We all need to analyze ourselves as a person. Ask questions like, “Who am I?”, “What is my purpose in life and what contribution do I want to make to the world?”
I am just as guilty for being concerned about material things, but now that I’ve been thinking of it, it’s all so irrelevant. The way I see it is that we are all on earth for a limited period of time, and so we shouldn’t waste it on complaining about things we know can’t be changed.
I want to stop worrying about where I’ll be in the next ten years, and concentrate on the impact I’m making today…now. I also want to stop conjuring up the image of the perfect person, because I know very well that he doesn’t exist. As days pass by, I am beginning to realize that life is like a rollercoaster ride. Nothing is easy, and almost everything – especially relationships require time, dedication and commitment. These are life lessons that can only be learnt from experience, and I need to place more of my energy into understanding and realizing it.
As I mentioned before, my uncle’s untimely death has forced me to hit the Pause button on my life. I don’t want to occupy myself to the extent that I forget to stop and smell the roses, so to speak. Life has an unusual way of panning out, and I really don’t want to be worried about what should have or could have been. Rather, I want to enjoy life for what it’s offering me today – good health and a loving family!
Have a great month and see you in March!
