Todays' Run:
Distance 4.5 miles
Time: 44:30
Power Song: Arizona Breeze
I usually run with my
Nike Plus app but halfway through it just turned off. Not sure why because I still had 33% battery left but in any case, it died. Which also means my music from
Pandora died too. Thus my power song today was the Arizona Breeze.
When my phone died my mind immediately thought of someone special to me who died earlier this month, my grandfather. This post is a tribute to my grandfather and my memories of him.
We lived on the opposite sides of the country growing up. I lived in Durban, South Africa, and he lived in Cape Town so we only saw him once every 2 or 3 years. I was young for most of the time I knew him.
When we did visit him he would make sure he spoiled us by showing off his beloved city, Cape Town. He had a great love for that city and all it offered. He became our tour guide on the holidays. He took us to
Table Mountain and to the famous
Waterfont along the coast line. We toured Signal Hill, Scarborough (their getaway cottage), Simon's Town, Hout Bay, the
Canal Walk,
Ratanga Junction, and many other famous landmarks of the city. One of my fondest memories was taking us to the sporting stadiums,
Newlands Cricket stadium and the Newlands Rugby stadium. He was a loyal and proud supporter of the Western Province sport teams, especially the
Stormers Rugby team.
One day when I was a younger lad he took me and my siblings to the Newlands Rugby stadium which you can see below. It was all empty, not another soul in site. I couldn't believe I was on hallowed ground which I had to explore. Only a few minutes of my grandparents showing us around they couldn't find me until they looked up, way up! I had climbed the bleachers to the north top tier and tried to hop over to the east top tier, with a lengthy gap between and a long drop I realized I gave them quite a scare. As I think back, I don't think I was far off from my grandfather when he was a young lad himself.
He had a great sense of humour. I always remember the quick wit he had with almost conversation. He was sharp and could bring a knee slapper laugh to anyone in the sound of his voice. He loved playing cards with the family. We spent hours around the table playing cards in the evening and taught us occasionally how to cheat when my dad wasn't looking. He was a family man. He had 4 children and many more grandchildren which I know he loved us all. He had passion for genealogy that he eventually wrote a book about our family history. He had stories for past ancestors. He had passion for ships and anything that belonged in the harbour.
I remember his occupation as a printer. He lived with his lovely wife since they were married 60+ years ago. We visited them at their flat, opposite the Green Point Stadium on the 5th floor where we could see
Robben Island where former president, Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.
His passing has reminded me what's important and how fragile life truly is. He was a selfless man that always loved his family. I believe I will see him again. I believe in life after death. I believe families are forever.
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| Newlands Stadium |
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| Table Mountain |
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| Grandparents with children and grandchildren |
