Happy Mothers Day to my mom, Alta

You prayed and prayed and brought me into this world, but that only makes you my mother.

What we learned together after that, made you my friend, my best friend.

I remember so many stolen moments. Moments of pure joy and silliness amidst stress and fear.

Koeksusters and Milky Lane after school on Thursdays;
Picking up avo’s in Durban and those white milk toffees;
Lemon meringue and hot chocolate at Mugg and Bean;
“I could walk 500 miles” at Spur in Welkom;
Floating past BMW’s in our white VW Beetle when the roads got flooded, and waving at them like we were the queen’s of Stateway;
Getting stuck with the Beetle because the back wheel came off and overtook us!
“There’s a hole in bucket” while planting daisies and Kosmos seeds, turning our house into the prettiest one on Maryna Street;
Insisting that my friends call you by your name, even though we were only 16 at the time;
Running me hot bubble baths in the middle of the day, filled to the brim, when no-one was around to complain about it;
Window shopping for hours and hours until we could walk no more;
The magic power that apple boxes have.

You never tell me you are too tired or too busy to listen;
When you listen, you don’t just hear me, you really listen;
A simple ‘hello’ from either one of us and we can tell whether the other is happy or sad, excited or angry;
I can call you at 10 pm or 3 am and you will always listen! Do you know what that means to me?

We have cried together and we laughed together;
We have fought with each other and fought against the world;
You have always sacrificed your needs to give me what I need;
You never say “I told you so”;
You never criticize or judge;
You never blame or reject.

Your house didn’t always have money but your home always have love,
And laughter,
And sunshine,
And music,
And books,
And faith.

You have taught me an unwavering belief in God;
You have taught me to honor and respect;
You have taught me to fight for what I believe in;
You have taught me compassion and understanding;
You have taught me to be the person I am, and I can only hope to be like you one day.

There is so much more, but I’m crying too much now.

I wish I could build you a house where you can see Table Mountain when you wake up in the morning. A garden filled with Kosmos, Daisies, purple Bougainvillas, Christmas Roses, and Agapanthus. Enough space for your books and boxes and cats. A computer with uncapped internet and an IT guy on call 24/7. A space where you can write and read to your hearts content. A place where you can wear your pajamas all day, if that’s what you want to do. A place where you never have to worry again. Never, about anything.

I love you mom! Thank you for all you given me and taught me. Thank you for the selfless person that you are. Thank you for being my mom.

Happy Mother’s Day, I wish you could be here!

Lief you vir altyd.

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