On the 22 October 2022 my groom , Lennie and his wife, Vanessa, welcomed a little girl into the world. I had no idea how this little person would change my life. The honour of naming her was bestowed on me and after much deliberation I decided that her name should be Samantha Joy.
The name Samantha means a lot to me. My friend of 35 years + is named Samantha. In the 35 years of knowing her she has often inspired me because as a person she is good. Good in a way of being everything I am not and so much more. My train of thought was that if I could wish this baby one wish in her life it would be to be a good person, like my Sam. The Joy part was added because this baby brought joy to our lives in a year that I could honestly describe as my ‘Annus Horribalistes’. Yes I know my spelling is wrong but isn’t it just so descriptive?
The first day that little girl lay in my arms I looked at her and thought:” So perfect.”
Mom and Dad have been so patient with me. I have been that faffing Granny but I shudder at the use of the word Granny. It’s not for me I rather prefer Yaya. I have been around to witness every milestone in this little person’s life, teething and tantrums included.
Her first word was Dada, then Mama and then came :’NO!” This word she says whilst crinkling her nose and closing her eyes. It’s a definite no coming from her little mouth.
She knows the Goanywherevehicle and when she sees it she puts up an almighty fight. I love being at the stables when the horses come in for the night and when the sun starts setting I hitch the little person to my hip, gather the dogs and make my way to the swing under the big old tree. We can sit there for over an hour depending on when it gets dark. I sing Old Mc Donald and the Wheels on the bus, in the beginning I had to make up the words that I had forgotten but Samantha doesn’t mind. She claps her hands and enjoys the show. My next door neighbour’s back door isn’t situated too far from my perch and he has, on the odd occasion, been heard singing along.
Samantha knows the dogs names and can phonetically pronounce them. She says:’ EeeeDeeee” (ED), “Jazzzzeeee” (Jazzie) and “Oupaaaa”. I want to squish her.
On the 21 October, we celebrated her first birthday in style. Her birthdate on is the 22nd so we left that day for the family celebrations. I invited a few friends the day before and all the old ‘Tannies’ were going too ooh and aaah over her, that’s for sure. She was showered in gifts but her real enjoyment was eating the fluffy pink marshmallows.
Currently we have 4 1/2 teeth to show, she can stand on her own, walks a few steps and falls over, she claps her hands and has a few words under her belt. Milestones I got to witness and enjoy. What a privilege.
My friend, Tersia, suggested that we take Samantha to a local mall as she wanted to buy her a few things for her birthday. I have on occasion taken Samantha shopping and she loved the outing so I agreed. The three of us happily set off on Tuesday morning, all bright eyed and bushy tailed.
Upon arrival at the mall Samantha was quite happily sitting on my hip watching all the people and the goings on around us. We went for a coffee and she had her first taste of milkshake.
Fortified after our coffee we made our way to the children’s clothing stores with shopping on the mind. Samantha was still balanced on my hip but she was getting quite heavy and I wanted to put her in a shopping trolley so I could have a hands free shopping experience. Unfortunately, the newly one year old was having nothing of that. She found her voice and loudly protested against the indignity of shopping from a trolley. The fact that we are two elderly white ;ladies, one big and one small, shopping with an African baby already elicited looks from the other shoppers was besides the point. Now the baby was screaming blue murder and the side -eye -look became a downright are-you-stealing-this baby look. Shit.
I picked her up and put her back on my hip but the damage was done. Samantha was in scream mode and nothing would appease her. Tersia and I gave each other a look and decided it would be in everybody’s best interest to just go home. The 30 minute journey home was done to the sound of Samantha singing the song of her people, in stereo.
To add to our experience Tersia, an enthusiastic smoker, had not had one cigarette since leaving her home early that morning. I could see the contractions starting. Things were getting tight in the Goanywherevehicle. By the time I stopped infront of Tersia’s gate she had her door open in a flash and was out of the car even before the car came to a stop. Samantha’s howling had by now reached an all time high and I could feel the vibrations deep in my chest. No pleasantries were exchanged when Tersia left as I sped off as fast as I could.
Shopping with an unwilling one year old is a harrowing experience. I feel for parents and will have a little more patience in future when I hear children complaining in the mall. Maybe this experience is payback for my comment I made years ago in Woolworths one afternoon when I went to buy a few necessities. A child, also incarcerated in a trolley, had lost all sense of humour and was throwing a ‘vloermoer’ of epic proportions. I remember telling the mom that her child was spoiling my shopping experience… shame on me.The things that come out of my mouth and then karma gives me a slap. Enough of my shameful conduct.
What really made me laugh was the message I received from Tersia later the evening when I sent her a WhatsApp saying:” Thank you for the horrible shopping experience.”
Tersia replied:’ We should have recorded her and played it back to her on her 21 birthday… I have never needed a cigarette and a glass of wine so much…”
Shopping with Samantha has been shelved for now.
