Hodge Podge wednesday no 2

1. Do you think the world became a more dangerous place on Sept 11, 2001 or are we just more aware of the danger? How has your life changed as a result of that day?

I am not an American, but that day remains in my heart as certainly the day we became aware of intense fear, hatred and desolation in this world of ours. My life outwardly did not change, I was not physically affected by the occurrences but inside, a lot changed. How mankind treats mankind. And how it escalated on that day where zealous whatevers would do the unthinkable. But indeed the world was a mad bad place even before 11 Sept 2001. Look at Hitler and his German nation ('normal everyday like you and I people') and how they annihilated millions as an everyday occurrence in gas chambers. Again, this is just a mere example. Look at all the rulers since mankind  and what each one has done to his fellow man. Even in my country in the apartheid years, I read books and articles about such and ask myself in shame, “How can MANKIND even comprehend the horrors they do to their fellow brothers and sisters?” And I know the answer lies within me.

I am the one to stop the hatred and fear in my world. I am the one who must start with the attitude, “We can cure this world, one day at a time, one person at a time of such intense hatred”. I know the devil will always live somewhere, but I must not worry about him. I must do what I can to sow peace and understanding everyday in my world. In my home, at my office, in my church, my social environ – that is where peace and joy and goodfellowship and love must start. And that is how I will live my life. Everyday.. I don’t reduce what happened to everyone of Sept 10, 2001, I just try ensure going forward how can I try ensure such hatred doesn’t happen in ‘my small world’…and I believe the more we speak with each other, of all races and religions, the more we truly hear each other, the more we understand, the less we fear and hate. I know you still get the devils out there, and yes we probably can’t all be bright eyed and bushy tailed as I am, but I believe we need to look and start with ourselves first . .

2. Did you think your parents were too strict when you were growing up? How about in hindsight?

My mom certainly was very very strict. Perhaps too strict, but in the end it didn’t harm me. Her strictness merely encouraged my success today and the person I am . I grew up mostly a decent person (I believe) now trying to teach my teens to live a decent honest life – now and the rest of their lives.

3. Share one random but candid fact about yourself

I am a very friendly peace loving green loving hippie. Inside and out. I believe in ghosts (I don’t speak to them or see them, I just believe in them). I believe in good and bad spirits roaming this earth after death. They walk among us. OK my friends and family think I’m touched.

4. Would your nearest and dearest describe you as simple or complicated?

Most certainly they’d choose complicated. No idea why. I’m working on becoming totally totally simplistic…..Life is too short to be and have complications…

5. What is your favourite stadium or carnival food?

I would choose the Wanderers Cricket Stadium in Johannesburg. And secondly the Ellis Park rugby stadium in Johannesburg where South Africa won the Rugby World Cup final around 24 June 1995. 100 000 people. Awesome! Carnival food? Not big on carnivals but love candy floss?

6. Tornado, hurricane, earthquake...how many of these natural disasters have you experienced? Which do you think would be the scariest?

Luckily haven’t experienced any of those natural disasters besides watching documentaries on them and that looked scary enough. I imagine they’d all scare the sh&ts out of me. I have experienced flood waters before and that is scary enough for lil ol me……..

7. Growing up, did your parents assign you regular chores? Were you paid for doing those chores. If you're a parent do you assign chores to your own children? Why or why not?

Growing up with mom only parent, and pretty poor at that, we had to do all the work in the house unpaid, never mind call them chores. We washed clothes by hand in our bath tubs, we rinsed them, squeezed them and hung them out to dry in the sun, we took turns ironing them and packing away. We scrubbed floors every Saturday when not playing sport. Our house was sparkly clean if anything but rich. And my mom did not do any job half. We even mowed the lawn and weeded every Saturdy afternoon. She gave us as much pocket money as she could afford at the time, it wasn’t near enough but as I said, this lifestyle didn’t kill us. In fact it made me determined to study and succeed in life and that was what I did. I worked hard and studied part time distance education to an Honours in Accounting. Today I’m studying again towards degree in Psychology. I have a decent job as does hubbie. We can provide our girls with things we could only dream of . Nowadays, I expect my girls to help out with ‘chores’ in the house such as certainly keep their rooms and cupboards neat (!!!), help out with mealtimes, cleaning dishes etc. I don’t pay them for that, but I do give them a decent pocket money every month . They don’t do much as we are also lucky to afford a housemaid. A luxury in most countries, but in Africa something that comes with the geographical location (and which is vastly appreciated, don’t doubt it….)

8. Insert own random thoughts here

Death does not wait for you to say, “OK, I’ve had it now, now you can take me”. Death comes when he wants to. This exact minute you’re healthy and happy, and the very next you have cancer, heart attacks, get hit by a car, walk into the wrong restaurant etc etc. I have an incredibly healthy friend. 43 years old. He went for a doctor’s check up. Healthy 6 ft guy with the world at his feet and enjoying and appreciating life. The next minute he was told he had to go for a double heart bypass. WTF??? What shock do you go through when they tell you this and you have till tomorrow morning before they operate such a major major life changing operation on you? I can’t imagine the shock for him and his wife. And then, you realise. This is it. This is the life I must lead. Right now. Because tomorrow I might not wake up from the operation. I don’t mean misuse life – I mean enjoy it to your fullest and leave a legacy of love, peace and joy should you not wake up. So far, my friend has come out of the theatre, and has woken up. Battles to breathe, blood pressure skyrocketing, we take each hour at a time. We are grateful for the waking up portion. Now we pray, just to get through tonight, and tomorrow. One baby step at a time.

Go see where you stand should you go for a double bypass tomorrow. What legacy have you left behind?

And have a good week. Hope to see you around again

LG

Beautiful scenery in my part of the world