Kay's Cradle

When I was little, my weeks were divided between the middle of nowhere (Stanger), and the middle of somewhere (Durban). My Mum was the first of her siblings to marry, and so too, the first to have a child - Me. For years I enjoyed the lofty and much enviable status of the only child in that household - fawned over by my grandparents and spoilt rotten by my aunties and uncle. They were so besotted with me (and yes, I say that with a smug, affectionate smile), that nearly every weekend, either one of my mother's siblings (or even all of them), would drive up to our cosy flat, pick me up and cart me off to Durban for a weekend (or sometimes even week) of fun, junk and tomato sauce.

My Mum's eldest sister, Kay, was the aunt who majored in the art All Things Fun: I could always count on her to have a stash of chocolates hidden not-so-efficiently in her room or to come home from work in a fantastic mood carting me off to the Movies or to get some ice-cream (or both). And the weekends were never dull either - we'd go to the beach and the flea markets, to the animal farm and the fun fair, to mini-town or the dolphin show; there were always people to see and places to go. It was a happy-coloured-chocolate-flavoured-candy-coated kind of bonding time. On some days, she'd even take me to work with her, and I remember I didn't even find that tedious (she's the kind of person who manages to make almost anything fun) - especially since, like at home, there was always sweets to be got. She had this nifty gadget, Newton's Cradle (its a series of swinging spheres, if one is pulled away and let to fall, then the impact produces a shock wave that propagates through the intermediate balls...that ball strikes the next ball in the series and comes to a complete stop. The ball on the opposite side acquires most of the velocity and almost instantaneously swings in an arc about as high as the first ball), on her desk, and I remember, I used to be so fascinated by it (still am if truth be told).

Kay taught me many lessons. The most important, I feel it necessary to share:
1) Chocolate is good (repeat: chocolate stash).
2) Disney is genius (She took  me to the see the Lion King, among others).
3) Science is fun (Newton's Cradle).
4) Dogs are friends (She got me my first - and so far only - dog: Simba).
5) Be Yourself, coz YOU are awesome (she led by example).

It's her birthday today, and I felt it necessary to share it with the world (and Loyal Followers), because you see Dear Readers, she is one of my inspirations in life. She has always been my friend first and my aunt second, my other Mother, my initial mentor.

Happy Birthday Apakhala, I love you lot's and lot's. I hope you know and never forget that, and I hope that one day I can repay you for all you've done for me.