Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances ; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
I Thessalonians 5: 16 – 18
The caravan and camping park were next to each other. Our friends while using our “Eagle ” tent had stopped coming after their gran past away and Paul the handsome brother of an equally pretty sister were no longer there to do things with. ( I liked Paul so much it was enough just to be in his presence and lucky for me he had a sister. I never really spoke to him.)
Our new friends for the next few years or so were a Dominee ( a Pastor / minister of the Dutch Reformed Church, South Africa) and his wife Margaret. They had three sons and we often met on the sands of Humewood. Douglas the eldest son grew rapidly. He was tall, slim and hollow chested with stooping shoulders and a sprinkle of pimples as I had too.
I remember we were all sitting in the warmth of the side tent of their caravan. Mom and Margaret would talk about us, their children, Dad and the Dominee would talk about religion ( the Sabbath, the state of the dead etc) in the years we spent together the adults never ran out of anything to say. The five of us had moments of quiet. Douglas was painfully shy and the younger boys were into playing not talking.
Well, we were just the five of us and we decided to walk to buy ice cream. It was in the afternoon. The wind in P.E.(Port Elizabeth) starts at this time and our ice cream melted fast, the wind whipped the sand around our ankles and Douglas and I had a long conversation. Our school work, our future studies , how things might turn out for us coming from different countries.
The next day Mum came to me and said how happy Margaret was. Why? Well she had been worried about Douglas. They didn’t think he was developing socially the way he should but they were so pleased he had, had such a long conversation with me.
Funny, no one thought it had been good for me. I was at an all girls’ high school with no brothers either so it was important for me too.
Some things are taken for granted but really take a lot of courage and one could say are hard won.
Life is a journey enjoy the trip. Aim for the sky, but move slowly, enjoying every step along the way. It is all those little steps that make the journey complete. The journey is the reward.
Unknown ( I wish it was me! 🤣 )
Another journey, another memory and another homecoming!
A long ago memory of another time kept my attention during a relatively calm crossing.
I remember that so well! I don’t remember Paul – or rather that name. Wasn’t one the sisters called Dale and she wrote something a bit rude in our autograph books? Love the stories the best😃.
Yes, I’m not sure about using people’s real names and now that I think about it she did🤣🤣🤣