The other day I was visiting my lovely Grandaughter Elizabeth. She is now four years old and growing up so fast. I sit and stare at her and see that she is just like me when I was that age. The only difference is that she has both her Mother and Father in her life. They do such a wonderful job raising her and she is turning into a fine young girl. I wonder what life would have done for me differently if perhaps my mother did come back to Saint Helena or bring me with her.
Last week I took a trip to London. It was by train and you could see all of the people coming and going. They were of all different types. Some seemed happy and others seemed sad. You can’t really tell by looking at them what they were thinking.
I sat and watched my grandchildren and thought to myself how young I was when my mother had left me. All of the trauma that I endured was something I would wish on nobody. My grandchildren are now ten years old and time seems to fly by so fast.
People would say that I am holding on to the past to much. But that is not true. I keep the past in my pocket. And I draw from it whenever I need to. Many times the past, good or bad, gives us some great understanding of things for the future.
While walking through London there were many tall buildings. Everything seemed so busy and full of energy. It was very non stop. It is quite a contrast to St. Helena. In St. Helena life is more easy paced and slower. Time still ticks over, but in a slower way. Is it possible that the people of London do not stop to appreciate time? Is it possible that the people of London are letting life go by too quick? I don’t know.
I do know that my mother left St. Helena to move to England all those years ago. She chased all of the things England might offer, but in the process she forgot the things that were the most important. Family and her daughter.
But I do know that we all should take time out to appreciate the things we do have. We shouldn’t get to wrapped up in all of the negative energy that is around us.
Today is Mother’s Day. It is a holiday to celebrate mothers. But, as I look at it I never knew my Mother, she was gone in a twinkle. To me she was a star in the sky that I hoped would fall back to earth. But she never did. My grandmother became my surrogate mother and at the time it was all I knew. I wished and I dreamed for her to appear, but she never did.
Despite all of that I want to wish her a Happy Mother’s Day.
Of course most important I wish my Grandmother Dolly a much deserved and Happy Mother’s Day.