Quick Update

[eumelia]

Today was the birthday tea for my Granny's 90th Birthday.

It was really a great success without much family drama.

Daddy, being the oldest son present, read a speech as did I being the representative of the Israeli family and my cousin (Daddy's brother's son) also read a speech representing the family in Cape Town.

The amount of old people was phenomenal. I was actually concerned that no one would be able to hear me when I spoke because you know, old people, they get hard of hearing. But the acoustics of the Mount Nelson (a very posh hotel, a vestige of the peak of British Colonialism) tea room was surprisingly good. I was very nervous and unsurprisingly began to cry in the middle of my speech, which is irritating for me, but adds something for the audience as many of the old ladies and gents came to me and complimented me on a very nice speech.

Hi everyone.
Hi Granny, Happy Birthday.
I've come, along with Daddy, to represent the Israeli contingent of this far flung family.
I remember coming to South Africa as a little girl, I'd swim in Granny's pool, play with Milo the dog, drink tea with milk and sugar and eat teigalach as I watched Granny knit something.
Granny you taught to me to knit. I still do.
Granny came to Israel a lot and I would always be the one to give my room for her, gladly, because for me and the rest of us in Israel, seeing Granny was the most special kind of treat.
No, it's more than that.
It was a privilege.
It was a privilege because I couldn't just hop on bus and see Granny whenever I liked, I couldn't just go shopping or see a movie with her whenever I felt like it.
I live half a world away from her but that doesn't change the way I feel.
Leigh, Jade and Robbie, and of course my Mother sent many instructions on what I should say to Granny on their behalf. However, in a nutshell, it is actually their best and dearest love that they send with me.
Every time I hug and kiss Granny I am doing it for all of us and so the hugs are the strongest and the kisses are the sweetest in all the world.
The great grandchildren; Amos, Shaul, Shvo and even Libby already know and love Granny Avis from photos and stories.
I must end with Shvo's words, as they are very apt: Granny Avis, I can't believe you're 90 – you don't look so old!

Yesterday wasn't a very busy day. Daddy and I had a bit of a lie in and picked up Granny after breakfast. We then went to my uncle's house and had some tea there and then went to the Irma Stern museum - Irma Stern is a famous South African artist, she painted and sculpted with themes ranging from portraits of her friends, various tribe people (mainly women) and sculpting busts of African people (again, mainly women). Apparently she was a shy person and never painted a self-portrait.

I also went to the Waterfront, which is Cape Town's shopping center with my "auntie's" (she's actually just a old friend of the family) daughter where I bought a couple of books while everyone went to watch rugby (boooooring!) and had a late supper.

So far, so good I'll say.

Comments

[lilacsigil.livejournal.com]

Your speech is lovely! It reminds me of my grandmother (who only lived two hours away) visiting - my parents always asked me if I minded giving up my room for her and sharing with my brother, but I never minded because I was so happy to see her. She died 16 years ago, in my last year of high school, but I still miss her. Happy birthday to your Granny!

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It was a lovely day all in all.

[aesiron.livejournal.com]

That was a beautiful speech.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Thank you.
I started to cry and then didn't stop for about ten minutes.

[(Anonymous)]

A lovely speech, Melly. I'm sure everyone thought your tears were wonderfully moving - and very Israeli (South Africans are less emotional, usually). On another note - eat a Peppermint Crisp for me!

Love,
Leigh

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Thanks you, as I said the tears were irritating for me, though I'm sure they gave a great affect :D

What's a peppermint crisp?

[(Anonymous)]

A chocolate bar with hollow crystals of green peppermint inside. Ask Daddy or Lynne (send her my love, BTW, and to Elisha also), but I imagine it should be available more or less everywhere. As I remember it had a silver and red or blur striped wrapping, which said "Peppermint Crisp."

[hemlock-sholes.livejournal.com]

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

What were you going to say?
Your comment is empty.

[hemlock-sholes.livejournal.com]

Very strange that it vanished...

My comment was a very tasteful expression of my feelings towards you, my sister, regarding my feelings towards both your abilities in general and the excellent way your expressed them today.

I'll let your imagination fill in the details of the missing comment, but the gist of it is that I'm proud of you :)

Love,
Robbie

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

*sniffles*

I love you too.

from shira

[(Anonymous)]

miss you already! Hope they are treating you like a queen for your birthday. Bet it's great to be there so far away and yet feeling at home.
if u have any free time- write me a long e-mail
don't do the avoidy thing
hugs!