Thursday, September 1, 2011

How will you be remembered?

Once upon a time, long, long ago, and way back in the last century when we were living in the Transkei, we invited one of our Xhosa neighbours over for tea one night as a thank you for helping us settle in so well there upon our then recent arrival there. And had roast pork and apple source to commemorate this relationship.
Now at that time we weren’t aware, that despite the numerous numbers of little black pigs running, it seemed, all over the countryside, only certain Xhosa’s ate pork – even though the rest had no problem in growing them and selling them to those who did.
Anyway, the then about 16 year old son of our neighbour, revealed that he really wasn’t keen on pork, but he ate it anyway, and absolutely loved it. So much so that he raved about it ever since. And it became a running joke between us.
One day, after we moved a little bit away from them but still just around a couple of Corners, and we were having roast pork for tea, the girls decided to invite the family over for tea again and rang them up to ask them over for that night.
This young lad said that he didn’t know if they could make it or not, as Mum was away in East London (In South Africa & 230kms away) and he wasn’t sure she would be back in time. The girls then told him that we were having his favourite for tea. He said, “Roast park and apple sauce?” “I’ll be there even if mum isn’t!” Well they both were there.
A little later he moved 800 mms away to Johannesburg to be an Air steward for SA Airlines. And he was as happy as Larry, as he found a restaurant just down the street that served roast pork and apple sauce, “just like Aunt Martha’s”.
Anyway, the years have passed since then and we have been long back in Australia and he is currently in Japan teaching English. But he still loves his roast pork. He recently posted this comment on his face book page: “Spent what seems like a fortune on a joint of roast pork that tastes like ****. Thought I would have it through the week, but no such luck.”
To which one of his friends replied: “Ooh I've been meaning to buy a leg of lamb and cook up some good kiwi style tucker for all you guys one day, I'll have to get onto that!”
And I followed with: “Better come and see Aunt Martha lad!”
To which he replied: “My Australasia people are the first to comment on this status update. Hooray for Australasia! One is a kiwi fruit whose cooking has time and again proved to be the truth and the other the husband of a woman who makes the most divine roast pork and apple sauce my taste buds have yet come to know.”
So there you are! I don’t know how you are remembered today, but if he had just written that, it would seem that I am just remembered as the husband of a woman who makes the most divine roast pork and apple sauce his taste buds have yet come to know!
Fortunately, this lovely young friend of ours, unexpectedly also had added directly to me:
“I must say though, Uncle Walter, even though you have been back in Australia for 10 years I still think of you as a Transkeian, man from Mthatha (or as we once knew it, Umtata).
I will come down eventually, Uncle Walter... eventually. ;-)”
Now coming from a young man who doesn’t normally give compliments lightly, I am quite chuffed by his comments, as I was unaware until recently, when we struck up correspondence again through Face book, that I had made such an indelible impression in him. Even though we all knew my wife's roast pork and Apple sauce had!
So now, what impression are you making today in others. And conversely, what impressions have others made in your life in the past? And have you ever told them so?
Well if not, maybe, just maybe, now is the time to do so? Over to you for now.

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