It was only a decade
And two years ago
When you came into my life
And though I know
I will have to let you go
Your eyes will always
Hold their place
Inside of me
Happy birthday
First born son
Of mine
Author Vonita
Daily Repeats
I have been taking careful note, the fresh daily prompts started in September and today we are back on repeats. Hopefully it is only for today and not until next September. I have sent some suggestions through that have not been used, so I know that at least a few are sitting on a server somewhere read/unread/deleted but definitely not used. Perhaps they may not be the best, most original suggestions ever, but sure beats washed out grey recycled repeats. Morning vent over!
We are on our way to the Hunter Valley for a long weekend here in Sydney. Have a happy Friday and weekend. Catch up later!
Piano Keys
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Lazy Learners.”
In the year 2000, I took up piano lessons. The lessons were on a Saturday morning in a suburb in Johannesburg. I used to park out the front. One Saturday morning I finished my lesson and went outside. My car was gone. Vanished. It was the most awful feeling. I lived by myself and it is difficult nigh impossible to move around in Johannesburg without a car. I cannot remember how I arrived at work on the Monday, but I did, and the company had a fleet car they allowed me to use for a couple of weeks. I had to buy another car in that time, while still waiting for an insurance claim to be settled. Fortunately it was at that time that I was about to start a new job and would have increased funds to pay for a second car. The insurance claim itself took over seven weeks to finalise. After six weeks the police recovered the car and wanted to return it to me. It was totally stripped. A shell of a car, I could hardly recognise it. I refused to accept it back.
I stopped the piano lessons, gave my piano to a newly married couple who really desired one (and they could both play), and have never got past beginner stage since then. I have a keyboard that I have practiced on, but time has flown, perhaps it’s two years since I last practiced on it. I love the feel of the keys underneath my fingers though, and being able to play even the most basic tunes. It is still on my to-do list for when I have more time or inclination.
Back in Time
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Life’s a Candy Store.”
I would wish all my family together – both sets of grandparents, parents, sister, aunts, uncles and cousins, and have a family day, with a swimming pool and ice cream on hand. They would all bring a plate of their most famous dishes – my aunt’s cremora tart which is like a lemon cheesecake, my maternal grandmother’s home made pies etc. My dad would be the bearer of gifts as giving gifts is one of his ‘love-languages’. And we would have a feast, celebrating each other and the essence of life. Hold up! The cynic in me has foreseen a problem in this fairytale day, as we have chain-smokers on the one hand and vehement anti-smokers on the other. #blessFamily. Okay, I would wish them all non-smokers for the day (I’m in the non-smokers camp). Problem solved.
And very thankful I am for memories of souls departed, and times spent with grandparents and favorite aunts etc. Experiences my children will never have.
Classic Quote of the Day #4
Nothing is working as it should.
Just restart it.
Soulmate?
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Yin to My Yang.”
Soul Mate: Someone who is aligned with your soul and is sent to challenge, awaken and stir different parts of you in order for your soul to transcend to a higher level of consciousness and awareness. Once the lesson has been learnt, physical separation usually occurs.
Life Partner: A companion, a friend, a stable and secure individual who you can lean on, trust and depend on to help you through life. There is a mutual feeling of love and respect and you are both in sync with each others needs and wants.
http://foreverconscious.com/the-difference-between-soulmates-and-life-partners
I have a friend who is the total opposite to me. Extrovert, opinionated in the extreme, stubborn, a leader, charming when he wants to be, and an alpha-male. He can be infuriating. We sat next to each other on a training course ten years ago. I was expecting my son, and resisted any form of friendship with him. He joined our company soon thereafter and our families both relocated to Sydney at the same time. A few years back he worked in the same building as myself. After many years of trying he succeeded in getting a conversation out of me. He promised we would be friends forever. They have moved to another city. He said his promise would always stand, we would always be friends. Sweet-talker. He is different to all my other friends, being of such strong personality and with a temper. It caused me to realign my definition of friendship. Is it possible for heterosexual male and females to be friends only? Is it appropriate? Can I be friends with someone who has a temper and whom I fear on a deep level, like being friends with a lion? Do opposites attract? Does that make a soulmate? Another soul my own has attracted in order to grow and evolve. As opposed to the definition of life-partner, of which my husband is the chosen one.
Vision
From the depth of valleys deep
A vision rises into view
Of peace and hope that’s mine to keep
My whole heart and soul and more
Accepts the vision of thy grace
I will forever thee adore
Santa Claus
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “When Childhood Ends.”
I recall an ‘adult’ coversation I had with my mother when I was all of six. I remember receiving a little black radio for Christmas amongst a whole lot of other gifts. I went to my mother in the kitchen and asked her to be honest with me. Does Santa really exist? She turned to look at me, are you wanting to know the truth? Yes, I replied, I’m here to ask. She said to me, your Dad is Santa and the gifts are from him. I felt so grownup to be told the truth, and to be in on the ‘grownup’ secret. It was strange looking at the gifts and knowing that they were not randomly selected by Santa, but by my father himself.
Footsteps
I will listen to thy whispers
To what thou hast to say
Thy leading and thy guiding –
Forsake me not I pray
My heart will be thy crown
I will ne’er thy love betray
Thy footsteps I will follow
Until my dying day
For I love You, oh Lord
My hope and strength and stay
Mondays are Mine
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Must Not Fail.”
In the few months before I met my husband I was requested by ex-colleagues to join a startup company. I was between projects so was not busy at work. I decided to go for it, receiving a good increase in the process. From the first day I knew it was not going to be for me. At times I would be left in a small office by myself with no one to talk to, and systems to learn. I’ve always worked in an open-plan office. I am somewhat reserved so it is not that I spend my time chatting to the others or making heaps of friends, but I like having people around me. To put me in an empty space for hours on end is never going to give me warm fuzzy feelings. I learnt the software and persevered. There were defects in the software that made it difficult to work with. Being the only engineer, I ended up working days, nights and weekends. My stress levels rocketed. My nails were torn off, nerves shot.
In the meantime my role at my previous company had been filled. I remember getting a phone call from the new engineer asking me about some code.
One day, after six months of this elevated pressure, I had enough. The system kept on randomly crashing, and I couldn’t deliver to the clients. My nerves gave out and I couldn’t go on. I started crying and could not stop. I was 25 and had no support system. There was no one in the world I could turn to. I had met someone and starting dating him. I was so fond of him, thought the world of him. He eventually couldn’t handle a manic-me, falling apart and turning into a crazy lady. He left. I was devastated. More tears. My mother had passed away a few years back, and my grandmother whom I was very close to had also recently passed away. It was me on my own. I called my previous manager. Do you have work for me please? Yes, come and see me tomorrow, he replied. I did, and after a short break I went back. On the first day of my return I met my replacement. He had a lovely smile. But when I tried to chat to him he just kept busy. Oh well. Leave him be. He’s busy, I get it. And my heart’s just been broken I’m not interested in men anyway. This was in the October. In the January we started working on a project together. The following January we got married. But I haven’t changed companies since then. I continued to work for the same company in Australia. They were partly responsible for my relocation. And I’m still there. I guess I’m too scared to leave. Last year I had enough, seven years in Sydney and it’s time. It was offered that I take an extended break, with my position still held. So I did, I had four months being a stay-at-home Mum and loved it. And I only work four days a week, Mondays are mine, it’s a privilege I don’t want to give up!
Poems and Petals 