When my mum turned fifty, some years ago now, I made her birthday speech for her.  Being chosen to stand up and speak on my mum’s behalf was not something to be flattered by, it was really because I am an only child, my parents are divorced, and there was no one else to do it!  My closing quote was - “happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have.”  It is still my most favourite quote.

The past week has been nothing short of extraordinary in terms of news I have heard and events that have occurred.  There have been incidents of external violence and shock news of illness of one of my dearest girlfriends, who will be absolutely fine, but is going through hell in a hospital in Natal and becoming understandably grumpier by the minute.  This girlfriend is undoubtedly THE most positive person I have ever met, and the fact that she has had transfusions and tests leaves me bewildered, almost as much as it does her.  I have been shocked by potential rumours I have heard about myself, which, although it made me absolutely livid at the time, made me wake up and realise that not everyone is always on your side, not everyone will always like you, and above all, one needs to protect oneself at times from the toxicity of some individuals.

In a roundabout way, the above paragraphs bring me to a realization we all too often say, but seldom put into finite practice: live each day as though it were your last.

In my youth I lived every day as though it were my last day ever to exist on this planet.  How my parents did not land up in a mental institution with a case of severe nervous tension, I will never know.  When I lived overseas, the best days of my life, I lived as if I had nine lives and lived with a belief that I could and would outwit the devil.  My cousin and I were once invited to a James Bond party in PARIS one weekend, and we decided to go.  We had very little money, but what we did have we spent on the train to Gare du Nord and a small hotel – talk about priorities.  There was not much money for food or drinks, so we saved our pennies for the cheapest food we could find – McDonald’s, and with the remaining disposable income, we bought French Champagne.  Again, talk about priorities!

Shortness of money for food did not perturb us in the least - we had a great time, and that James Bond party was a party I will forever remember.  My cousin was Pussy Galore and I was Money Penny – now work that one out!

Last Saturday I had lunch with a wonderful friend of mine who told me I must attend his house warming party in September – in Paris!  Coming back from my sabbatical in Frontier Country, at the moment a trip to Paris would have to be made via one very fast magic carpet, but it does make one realise that there is a whole big wide world out there, and that opportunities, when presented, should often be taken.  A great pity I guess that I am not dating an international airline pilot.

The past week has brought to the forefront of my mind that life is fragile and can be easily broken; that none of us know what, or who, is around the next corner – whoever it is may be a friend, but could also be a foe.  There is a wonderful saying by John Varty, whom I admire greatly in so many ways, but that is a story for another day.  He says, quite simply, “tread lightly on the earth” – and he is completely right.

And so to end with the lesson for this chapter:  Go to the James Bond party; save on food in order to go big on French Champagne; try hard not to bad mouth others as you know how much it hurts when you hear things about yourself that are unkind and untrue; appreciate all you are able to, and be happy to want all it is that you have, even if that is not necessarily having all it is that you want.