Our time of limbo in South Africa has been an adventure all
of its own. We arrived back in South
Africa on the 23 January and took up residence in Pretoria which lasted all of
50 days. The first few weeks we spent
enjoying the luxuries of city life, a private bedroom with a double bed, a bath
with running water, a cupboard to unpack our clothes into, shops close by,
slabs of chocolate and delicious home cooked meals. But with those luxuries of the big bad city
comes the big bad people.
Barry left for Uganda as planned on the 2nd March
and right away I felt like a part of my soul was gone. Considering that we have hardly been apart in
the 7 years of our relationship, I took it quite well I think, until my boat
was rocked, my patience was tested, my faith in the universe shook and my
friendship, with whom I assumed was my good friend, failed dismally.
So here is the long and the short of it, and of course
without naming names, but I know the people involved read our blog and so know
who they are.
On the 16th March, Baz had been in Uganda for
only two weeks, always worried about Joshua and I, missing us terribly while in
a strange country far away from all that he knows and loves. And BAM life as he knew it was all shot to hell!
Early hours on this day in March I was
accused by an apparent prominent lawyer and her family, situated in
Johannesburg, of being her younger brother’s drug dealer. I endured abusive phone calls and sms’, hysterical
screaming from a person who is apparently this prominent lawyer (who should in
my books behave in a more professional manner) threatening me with the police
and child welfare. I was instructed to
leave the property that I was renting a room at, at the time. I was told that I was a disgusting mother and
that my children deserve better. I was also told that this particular family
had read my Facebook wall and my blog and that they ‘know what kind of person I
am’.
LAUGH OUT LOUD, what kind of person
I am? Hmmmmm, considering that this is the
only family on this planet that doesn’t like me out of the thousands of people
whose paths have crossed with me in my lifetime, I would say then that YOUR
OPINION OF ME DOESN’T COUNT.
Why was I accused of that?
Because I smoke marijuana. Yes,
there you have it. I smoke
marijuana! Do I smoke it every day?
No. Do I sell marijuana? No. Do
I go and buy marijuana from the local guy on the street corner like a
junkie? No. Do my children go hungry? are they abused in any way, do my children think or love me any less? No.
I smoke marijuana because I choose an
alternative lifestyle, I choose NOT to take anti-depressants, I choose to make
use of alternative medicines instead of taking those harmful drugs prescribed
by doctors. I choose not to educate my son in accordance with that bullshit that is taught by the corrupt school
teachers of today. I choose to stay away from anything to do with politics, I
choose a life of travel with my life partner and my child because we choose not
to conform to the norms of society. And
my hairstyle of choice… dreadlocks.
Hmmmm… could that be the reason why this family chose me as
their scapegoat instead of actually taking their own son to task and ensuring
that he takes responsibility for the choices that he makes in life. Ensuring that the police were involved in the
so called 'bust', instead of trying to entrap me into something that, I actually
had no involvement with. Instead of
buying and lying their way through life?
What kind of future does this boy have?
The mightier you are the harder you fall, so they say. So let the mighty then fall hard.
Wow, how sad that one family, just one family can be that
shallow and overlook the fact that their son is actually the drug dealer and addict. How sad that one family believes that they
have a right to try and destroy good people with accusations when they in fact
are the ones who are the very example of those who are destructive and ooze
evil into society. How sad that this
family believes that their son is innocent and everyone around him are the ones
to blame for his drug soaked lifestyle. Phew!
Anyhow, so since the 16th March, Joshua and I have
been doing the best we can with the little that we have had and boy have we
done real well. We are super blessed to
have some very special people in our lives, people who came forward and opened
up their homes to us. Friends, who actually live up to the status of being our
friends. Friends who took us in, offered
us support, advice and always put Joshua’s welfare first! Real special people who have a real special
place in my heart.
Joshua and I have stayed in five different homes in the last
8 weeks!! Not an easy way to live as every home has their own ways which are
not our ways. But yet they made space when they didn’t have any and they did so without judgement. Travelling with our backpacks, camping
mattresses, a sleeping bag and a pillow, we backpacked like true champs.
I am so grateful that Joshua is the free spirited boy that
he is, because 99% of today’s children would not have survived this adventure
the way that he has. Always smiling,
always doing his bit to make this adventure exciting and happy. Always taking time out of his busy day to put
his arms around my neck and squeeze me so tight while reassuring me that
“everything will be alright Mamma” What
a boy he is.
The saddest thing for Joshua was coming to learn the truth
about his 'friend', this youngster, who was the reason why we went from being
safe and settled while Dad is up Africa, to being home-less, unsettled and real
sad at times. It’s a sad lesson to learn
at the age of 5, but he now has a very good understanding that he is NOT to
trust anyone, not even his friends because it’s usually those closest to you
that will hurt you real bad and let you down in life. Our boy is now so much wiser.
So here we are, our last few days in Jozi. We are in a good place, we are packing,
shopping, packing and shopping some more.
Joshua and I are extremely excited to be joining Barry in Uganda
soon. Another awesome adventure is about
to begin.
Grateful, to be showing the
middle finger to those who have been the cause of some heart-wrenching moments during
the last few weeks. Sad, to be saying
farewell to those that we love and miss the most while we travel. Super excited to be reunited with Barry
again.
Today I say thank you to those of you who have opened your
homes to Joshua and I, for one night, a weekend and up to two weeks. Thank you to those of you who have taken us
out for a meal and reassured us that all will be good. Thank you to those of you who have bought us
a few groceries and ensured that we have been fed and taken care of. My list of thanks is endless.
My most important thanks go out to Barry who is thousands of km’s
away and has supported me and believed in me every step of the way. Who has continued to love me unconditionally
and who has motivated me to just keep on going.
This man, who has sacrificed so much for the greater good of his
family.
And me… I am stronger, more spiritual and I am even more convinced
that our choice in our alternative lifestyle is the right way and the only
way! People will
befriend you and they will stab you in the back whilst acting in a cowardly
manner. Those people are the very kind
that I dismiss out of my life without hesitation.
I see that we are surrounded by nasty and destructive people. Those people have no space in my life. Ever!
I have always believed in KARMA and phew, I must admit, I
don’t feel an inch of sympathy for those who have karma knocking on their
doors, if not already, then soon. The
karma bus is on route and I am the driver ;-)
Bring on our new adventure.
Time to leave the bright lights of the big bad city behind. Time to go where we are always happy. Time to
continue our African dream xx
Remember to educate yourself before you accuse someone. It will save you from and those around you from a whole lot of hurt. Don't be a coward, if you want to know then simply ask. Don't go and spread nasty rumors because at the end of it all, it is you who is un-liked, not trusted and your life will be filled with loneliness and bitterness.
Peace, love and happiness always!
Blu
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