17/06/2024
SHOCKING NEWS!
Old lady protests in the aftermath of Youth Day Celebrations.
SO this morning I read somewhere on a website that for a certain type of Job you can only apply if you are under 60 years of age. Of course I cannot remember where (memory folders are all full) - but that implies that I only have two years to go before I lose my value to contribute to the economic stability of the country. On the positive side I can then stand in line for SASSA and get my hair done early morning so that I can look presentable for all the pensioner's specials!
Now I need to plan my 730 days so that I can make most of my pre-60's. How ridiculous is that? I do have some form of bucket list (if I can remember where I put it), but when are you too old to:
Get a poegie?
Learn to surf?
Study further (especially if you were a very naughty student)?
Travel?
Lose that weight!
Before or after 60?
The problem started back in 2003. The young TMT bible school students started this Tannie thing. I hated it! And when it was a person of colour it would be Antie. Most of them realised the error of their ways, (scary tannie picture attached) but after the second year I gave in and started to respond less aggressively to the name Tannie.
Now, when I see these blushing young ones all grown up and kids of their own, I find satisfaction that they are now also Tannie to someone.
Then when we had a shop it happened again. Someone seemingly my own age, male or female, comes in and calls me Tannie! And right there, if they looked my age or older I tried to speak a bit slower because there must be something wrong with them?
Yes, some days the biggest struggle is to remember if I took my pills and where I put my glasses (how must you see them if you don't have them on? But on the upside, a Tannie can ask for more help, pretend not to see or hear, sit out on certain activities ...
We recently joined a community group with the young blushing ones. They hold the world in their hands, many untraveled roads before them, many doors to be opened, adventures to be had, life to be lived, and right there, for a moment, I wish I could have my gap year and not be a Tannie. To explore and create and overcome and not feel like time is running out (at this stage that is all that is running).
But obviously I want to do that having learnt the lessons I had to, won the battles I had to, and loved all that I could have.
Tyd vir Tannie om te groet.
Koebaai