auntie m.

i wish all of you could get a chance to know auntie margaret of #113 trevor siljeur road, capricorn. she's the fireball of the community. nothing comes in or out without her knowing since she lives at the main entrance to the community.

i got to know her through mingo, who lives with her during winters here. last winter i began visiting her once or twice a week. then when mingo left, i continued stopping by just to say hello and chat with her. she's fun to talk to.

she has alot of kids, both her own and other people's. she wants to open a children's home because she jokes that she's known as the one who opens her house to anyone. sometimes that gets her into trouble, but other times it really helps a child out.

her oldest is marvin, he's about 19. then comes stephie, she's 17. then there's sherlyn, who is about 12. then brutjie, he's maybe 6. and then there was tyron. tyron would have been two this coming august. instead, tyron died at 8 months of "food poisoning". he was in the hospital, and then in the grave within a week of being a normal, healthy baby boy.

i met auntie m 4 months after this happened. i knew she was a heavy drug addict, and i had issues with her taking in mingo and other kids who use drugs in her house. i thought she was one of those ladies who used the kids to run or buy her drugs for her. but that was before i got to know the story of tyron.

today was the second time i have taken her and the family to tend to the grave and put fresh flowers on it. each time she comes across some blooming beauties, she plans a time to go with me. and each time it's been the same. she starts with a vigorous cleaning and pruning of the the land. then she slows into a thoughtful pace. before too long, she's crying out in pain and anguish at the loss, franctically and unsuccessfully trying to scoop up excess dirt and debris and move it to the dirt pile around the back of the plots. anything to keep her from just standing still and feeling the fullness of her loss.

both times i have left in a total daze. her loss blows me away. her life breaks my heart. her daughter stephie just had her second child at the age of 16. and her little boy brutjie got hit by a taxi and suffers from brain damage.

this woman is an honor to have in my life. she is so strong. she still struggles everyday, but she is so hopeful. she likes to be prayed with. she finds strength in our friendship. she never ceases to show me the love she has for me.

i look at auntie margaret and i smile. just as the shoots of bright green grass sprout up through the dead ground of tyron's grave, so does her life and love burst out of the darkness of capricorn.

if you come to south africa, spend some time with this woman. she's a blessing. and she needs your prayers.