{"id":2846,"date":"2011-02-07T12:53:40","date_gmt":"2011-02-07T12:53:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/zaparents-blog\/?p=2846"},"modified":"2022-06-09T21:25:33","modified_gmt":"2022-06-09T19:25:33","slug":"madiba-youve-done-us-proud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/blog\/lifestyle\/childrens-rights\/madiba-youve-done-us-proud\/","title":{"rendered":"Madiba, you\u2019ve done us proud."},"content":{"rendered":"

I won\u2019t sit here and attempt to write about your virtues. I wouldn\u2019t wish that task on anyone. Because even the most skilled writer is going to struggle. The words don\u2019t seem to do you justice really.<\/span><\/p>\n

I was too young. I didn\u2019t understand the enormity of what we were going through back then. I remember people being scared. And confused.<\/span><\/p>\n

I remember this man.<\/span><\/p>\n

You, this ray of hope.<\/span><\/p>\n

You were going to lead us down this road. And we were going to follow you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Like the smell of SPF20, Timothy Traddle and Mnet Open Time. You really were a part of me growing up. You\u2019re tightly woven into the heartbeat of my South Africa. It wouldn\u2019t make sense without you. I mean, the soccer World Cup only felt real once you showed up.<\/span><\/p>\n

You know\u2026 there\u2019s not a heart in this country that you haven\u2019t touched.<\/span><\/p>\n

I like knowing you\u2019re around.<\/span><\/p>\n

Like a grandfather, sitting on the stoep. Keeping an eye on all us unruly, neighbourhood kids. Smiling when we get on. Worrying when we fall and scrape our hands and quietly scolding us when we trip each other up.<\/span><\/p>\n

I know you won\u2019t see this. And I know it doesn\u2019t really matter what some 23 year old girl in Cape Town thinks. I know you don\u2019t need my approval. You don\u2019t need me to say well done. You\u2019ve done us proud. You deserve a break and you\u2019ve done all that we asked and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s just that I sat in my car yesterday and heard you\u2019re in hospital. I know it\u2019s just routine tests. But my heart dropped. I told my friend that I\u2019d cry buckets if\u00a0something\u00a0happened. She said she would as well. We\u2019re softies this way.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although when it comes to you.\u00a0I think everyone\u2019s just a giant marshmallow inside.<\/span><\/p>\n

And maybe this post is a bit silly. But\u00a0I realised that I had to ask.<\/span><\/p>\n

I have one more favour Madiba.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes. It\u2019s a selfish one.<\/span><\/p>\n

But I want my grand-kids to see you. I don\u2019t want to have to try and explain all that you are and all that you mean to us, out of the pages of some history book.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019d\u00a0actually just like it, if you could live forever.<\/span><\/p>\n

Robs<\/span><\/p>\n

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