LIVING MY BEST AND SIMPLE LIFE

I RECENTLY celebrated a birthday (no numbers, please) and took time to reflect on how incredibly well life has treated me so far.

I may not have achieved fame or greatness but I’ve had lots of fun and known and loved many wonderful people. Looking back along the dusty road I’ve travelled, it seems the best bits have been the unspectacular ones – having a career with great colleagues, raising a family of children and grandchildren I’m proud of, being able to learn new skills like sailing, woodwork and even flying (many of my friends obtained their pilot’s licences, but I have the distinction of having crashed a plane!)

I’ve travelled through many countries on a Vespa scooter (and not crashed). Most of this happened by sheer luck. I had the right parents who sent me to a good school and I grew up on a farm where I learnt many useful trades and, importantly, a basic knowledge of the Xhosa language.

I wasn’t exactly born with a silver spoon in my mouth; you could say I was born with a pencil and a screwdriver in mine. I look around me rather sadly these days and feel deep sympathy for the many people who, through no fault of their own, find themselves in a difficult world with none of the benefits I enjoyed. I drive past sad little shelters under bridges, where people huddle shivering at night, and feel slightly guilty when I come home to my warm bed and hot bath.

I don’t know how many birthdays I have left, but I hope to spend them shedding some of the unnecessary stuff I’ve accumulated over the years.

I can sleep under only one duvet at a time, and wear one pair of shoes at a time, so I’ll be looking for barefoot people sleeping under cardboard.

It occurs to me that most of us spend the greater part of our lives accumulating stuff and end up too tired and weak to use it. Maybe the purpose of old age and retirement is to distribute all that stuff we’ve gathered around ourselves over the years.

I look forward to the next few years playing Santa Claus.

Last Laugh

THE doctor came to visit one of his patients in hospital after performing major surgery on his hands.

The patient held up his heavily bandaged hands and asked: “Doctor, do you think I’ll ever be able to play the piano after my operation?”

“Yes, I don’t see why not,” the doctor replied. The man sighed happily and said, “Oh goody! I’ve always wanted to be able to play the piano.”