My friend Bob Saunders and McKenna Saunders [3years and 5 months]
In spite of Jacob Zuma, our beloved President of the RSA and his antics and outrageous stories, we in South Africa have wonderful stories to tell. Please read my stories below about three grandpas: one in New York and two in South Africa. I intend to publish two more stories about us men who are grandpas.
My friend Bob lives in Roodepoort area and is the proud [do I really have to say this?] grandpa of McKenna, his son and daughter in law's child. I sent Bob the link to Tedd Heisler's story in the New York Times that was published in 2009: ONE IN 8 MILLION and more particularly the story about Grandpa Joseph Cotton [he was 57 at that time] and his 4 grandchildren. If you want to read Joseph's story, you can click here.
When I read Joseph's story the other day I was not an oupa - our daughter and son in law Rolf and Mispa Roux were expecting our first grandchildren. Please take notice: grandchildren. But for this story you will have to wait some time, suffice it to say that our grandchildren were born in the meantime.
Bob still thinks with a warm heart and fondness in his voice about the time he grew up and experienced his grandparents. Sad to say he tells me that their time is only a memory.
Bob writes that he teaches McKenna to smell the roses in his garden. I can just imagine this big friend of mine holding McKenna's little hand in his and then bending down discussing the roses and the smells! Sweet memories are made of this, not so?
I also sent this story about Grandpa Joseph to my other friend Clive Schonken. There are six grandchildren: 19, 18, 17 and 16 [all girls] & 10 & 8 the two boys. Wow! He is a well seasoned oupa. His reaction to Joseph's story is encapsulated in his reply to me:
"Soos Joseph sê, hy’t net vir tyd gevra, wonderlike tyd…oupa tyd. Fantasties, ek het hulle die veld en tuin ingeneem, hulle het gevoel, geruik, gebalanseer, geleef, “slip & slide”,gehol en gelag!
Dit was ek, my kleindogters en wonderlike oupa tyd en o ja, hulle het in die kleinste van klein badjies in die opelug, na n dag van vuil word, gebad.
Groete, jy sal dit self beleef."
Unfortunately he cannot give me photographs of his 6-pack - he had a burglary at his home and both his and his wife's laptops were stolen.
In the meantime, after I published this story Clive was able to obtain only one photo so far of him with his first grandchild. Here it is:
In the meantime, after I published this story Clive was able to obtain only one photo so far of him with his first grandchild. Here it is:
Clive Schonken and his first grandchild
I want your stories about your grandpa or if you are the grandpa, please write me a story about you and your young ones. Write me your story and send it to me at: neelscoertse@wirelessza.co.za
