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Time in a bottle

On Saturday, one of our dear Cousins celebrated his 21st birthday - quite a big deal down under... here in Africa! Normally because it means a party. In a hall. With black-and-something-coloured overlays. And tiny, sparkling confetti that reads 'Happy Birthday' and '21'. And nuts and meebos and Messaris Chilli Chippies. And a buffet. And a DJ. (Hell! Some even go as far as to do the '21st step' and all that!)

It also triggers a walk down memory lane - mostly for Mom's any way.

Tim's Mom did not disappoint and she's been pulling out photos from the early 1900's and tagging us all in them!

P-J, Jorja and Ethan were fortunate to meet Tim and our other cousins living abroad when we visited them earlier this year. I too got to meet a older, taller, stronger, wiser man that I'd last seen 8 years ago. And then you realise just how quickly the time goes... and how important it is to make the most of our time...and what a difference time can make!


This coming Sunday, we will also remember our late Gran Naomi's birthday. Not only thinking of the caramel and banana cake that she would've prepared, or hearing her ask "Did you pour yourself a (cold) drink yet, Dearie?" but also to celebrate what her life meant to our family and the time that we had with her throughout my childhood and into my early married years. I was fortunate to have her witness our marriage ceremony in 2006 and even Jorja's birth in 2009 and I'm sad to think that she never met Ethan or Zac. Her passing 4 years ago has not made the loss any less but it has definitely helped us appreciate her influence and has enriched our relationship with my Gramps - and he's watching Jorja, Ethan and Zac run circles around the place these days and trying to find a hiding place I'm sure!


In both of these instances we can have a renewed appreciation for the fact that we can't hold time in a bottle. Perhaps that's why I enjoy taking so many photos - and journalling? The idea that a moment can be captured and kept in our memory is so appealing! When we discover that time brings with it a host of both negative and positive impacts, we can surely start prioritizing how we use it.

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