Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Dear Mrs Reindeer

Today my heart is still lying around me in pieces. Generally I cope well with stressful and emotional situations, being an overly rational person, but, unfortunately, death does not fall into this category.

On Sunday afternoon my dearest dad phoned. I knew something was up the moment he said hi. His voice was strained and his generally upbeat mood was noticeably dark. He's usually the strong one, so he had to deliver the news, Mrs Reindeer died about an hour ago in the hospital......I hardly heard the rest.

Apparently you had been in hospital for two weeks, slowly fading away to the full 25kg you weighed at the time of your death. The parentals didn't want to tell me before as they knew the result was inevitable and I'd only have been distracted and unable to do anything about it. Ironic isn't it, how the only thing we never agreed on was the one thing that finally caused your sad and painful death.

You have been a part of my life for 18 years. You were always there to motivate me along the way. You saw potential and helped me to develop it, giving me a gentle push in the general direction of success and encouraging me to fly. During your lifetime you've touched so many young people's lives, showing them what they can accomplish if they only believe and taking little credit for the end result.

You were always quick to laugh, quick to love and quick to share a tear. The influence of your work can be seen everywhere in our little home town, and I pray that this is how you will be remembered. Proud, hard working, loving, caring, strong and full of life, not as a suffering ghost of yourself in hospital.

In a way I'm grateful I didn't have the opportunity to visit you in hospital. My memory of you will forever be of the wonderful and strong woman I discovered during the years I was fortunate enough to share with you.

I will pray for your husband, daughter and grandchildren. That they may experience peace and comfort in what will surely be a very trying time. Rest in peace Mrs Reindeer, the world will certainly be a whole lot poorer without you.

Love

Ruby

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Dear Chamber

Sunday was your birthday, so Happy Birthday!!! Yes yes, i realise that the letter is a whole two days late, but considering that I spent most of your birthday with you I don't think you'll mind:)

On Saturday, as i was sitting down to think and to write something profound and interesting in your birthday card, I realised with a bit of a shock that we've been friends for 8 years....8 YEARS!!!! I suppose it doesn't sound like a hell of a long time to other people, but considering that we only met in our first year at uni...well, it's a long time. Then again, deep in my heart it feels as if I've known you my whole life.

Apart from my family, I don't think there is another human being on the face of this earth who understands me like you do. You are quick to share my humor, understand my need for both a wild social life and much alone time, to gently tease my weaknesses in ways only you could get away with, to cry with me when my heart breaks and to share loud laughter at every chance. You are the one person who reads me like a book, knowing every look, every smile, every gesture. The one who can spot my doubts a mile away and will set my mind and nerves at ease in such a way that nobody else will even notice.

We lived together for 4 years, and then we had to head off and face the grown up world, each in our own way, and yet we weren't alone. Each being there for the other, still sharing love, hurt, happiness, fears and experience regardless of the thousands of miles that separated us.

In a way, the last couple of months have been a little hard for me. I've been dreading losing you and at the same time I'm thrilled to see you so incredibly happy and in love. I think I was scared that it would be the end of an era for us. You being engaged and all. But as I was sitting there on Sunday with you and your fiance, I realised that rather than losing you our friendship has become ever so much deeper. And ultimately I've gained your husband to be as a new friend. He's not trying to steal you away from me. In fact, he's still trying to impress me and to let me know that his intentions are pure. He's a sweet, sweet man, and I'm eternally grateful that he is a part of your life. He makes you happy, any fool can see that.

So here's to you, my bestest best friend in the whole wide world. I hope that you had an absolutely fantastic day on Sunday, and that the year ahead will simply be amazing! That you will be blessed beyond belief and that this year, which includes your wedding, will be one of the most memorable ones. I love you my chamber and I can't wait to see what the future holds for us.

Love

Ruby
xxxxxxx


The chambers in action

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Dear Being Brazen

These posts will always be addressed to you, as you were the one to inspire the "Current addictions" post. So here follows my current addictions

1. Chris ChameleonSeriously...I love this dude. He is a South African artist who has developed quite a following for both his Afrikaans and English albums. He has a way with words that I can only describe as delectable. I heart Chris Chameleon:)

2. Granny Smith ApplesOK, now i realize that you're probably sitting there shaking you head. Insane right?? How on earth can anyone be addicted to Apples?? I've always loved Granny Smith Apples, but in recent weeks it's escalated to a new level.

3. Kings of LeonNo comment needed me thinks:)

4. PilatesOnce again this is probably a really really strange addiction. I discovered pilates some time during last year, and I've been hooked ever since. Currently it helps to improve my mood in leaps and bounds and brings a welcome relief from jumping between work and assignments.

5. House hunting!!!Ok, so despite our current economic climate I'm looking to buy a townhouse. I've developed quite the passion for looking through the property section in newspapers and hopping around excitedly whenever I see a "For Sale" sign:)

Well Being Brazen, I hope that this give you a little bit more insight into the life and times of Ruby:)

Love

Ruby
xxxxx