… and sometimes, if you’re lucky, twice or thrice. We’ll never know, until the opportunity presents itself. Live life to its full, and allow each day to be filled with wonderment and awe.
Mom’s famous last words are, “Marcelle arrived home from Pretoria with little more than her baby and a few items of clothing.” My time there expired on 31 August 2009, and I could not stay on a day longer. I had no desire to ever return to the Gauteng Province, and most certainly not to Johannesburg. This had been my attitude, until an invitation made me change my mind…
It came as an unexpected suprise when the Joy Child and I were invited to celebrate a friend-sister’s 50th birthday. With enough time to spare, I accepted the invitation that would be a turn-around in how I view life. Like the first invitation to Pretoria – for a Capetonian, Johannesburg and Pretoria are both the same place, and the names are used interchangeably – I needed to respond swiftly and step out of my comfort zone, taking an enormous leap of faith.
Joy’s biggest concern was that the Rands we use at home would be acceptable currency in Jo’burg Country.
Leaving everything until the very last minute, we managed to secure flight tickets for our weekend breakaway.
The trip was extra special as we celebrated Joy’s maiden flight. On any given day she hardly shows any emotion, but this time around she could not hide her excitement behind sharp squeals and broad smiles. If anyone should ask her what was the highlights of the trip, she’d tell you that the best part of flying was during take-off and landing. I could not pry her away from the window as she stared long into the night.
There was not much time to wander off too far on our own, but we went where the brave would not go. In search of a local supermarket, we descended a koppie (hill), blissfully unaware that criminals stake out for a shopping spree of their own. Thankfully this mother-daughter duo considered it a walk to the park, but after heeding stern warnings, we returned to our lodgings by cab.
Had we stayed home, nothing would have changed and we would not have thought that we’d missed out on anything. We’d be in familiar settings with a myriad of options to explore without travelling too far. Yet, because we stepped out, my view point has changed to embrace new possibilities.
We’re planning to visit again in the new year and explore must-see place such as Soweto, the Apartheid Museum, the Maboneng Precinct and perhaps Pretoria and the National Zoo.
Make every moment count…
Cellos Violins & Musical Instruments 