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Happy Birthday Nondwe

55 (because you say you’re 55) Reasons we think she rocks:

55 - 11: She’s a Root Beer Lover.

10 : She sings cool songs.

9   : Pretends to be on Project Runway and walks like a model. (She did it last night if you’re thinking “when?”).

8   : She’s the only Frenchwoods camp counselor who has stayed with the Morris’.

7   : She’s the only Frenchwoods counselor that I know.

6   : She’s from South Africa. That rocks.

5   : She can talk really funny when she wants to.

4   : Last night we talked about how Miriam’s a flower.

3   : She’s nice.

2   : She’s funny.

1   :   >>>>>>>>   She’s just plain AWESOME!

Written by Claudia Morris, age 11, Samantha Morris’ cousin

* Fireflies -  Owl City *

We are sitting in the dining hall and having our dinner one day.  Sam, my camper, is busy eating her quartered orange.  She is busy sucking on pieces and really becoming one with the juice from the ripe orange.  She looks up, brushes her hand over her mouth and excitedly exclaims,”I love this orange.  It tastes just like orange juice”. 

I smile.  I am in America again.  

* Burn it up, baby - The Ivy League *

 LeRoi Moore (Saxophone)

1961 - 2008

* Crash - Dave Matthews Band * 

Nothing.  Just wanted to say….

* Say - John Mayer * 

Pavement, even uneven

Grass, green yellow brown

Walls, high short concrete fence

Potholes, big small

Tar, marked unmarked

Sign, stop yield

Stones, square round rough smooth

Rubbish bin, plastic lined unlined

Tree, branch leaves nest hive bark

Flower, white thorn petals

Distance out left, left out…

Lace shoe, shoe with lace…

Blue converse faded, faded blue converse…

Pair no, no pair…

Alone

* Valerie - Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse *

I was so excited. He was coming to my place. It was his birthday. I loved celebrating his birthday. The year before, I’d given him a card with a box of his favourite chocolate. Ferrero Roche. Yum. He loves them. Gobbled up in seconds except the last one, I think. He said he would save that one, for later.

This year was different. I did not have to make a rush decision for his present. It was very clear to me. He loved whiskey. So, I thought, why not? You only live once. So I did it. I walked into a liquor store and brought a bottle. I was not asked for identification, as I thought I would. Oh, well. Black plastic bag in hand, smile on my face and heart racing from excitement, I headed home to wrap. With love. I wrapped it real good. Tight and special. I smiled and looked at it. My father would disapprove. He dislikes alcohol. He has his reasons. I guess that is part of why I don’t like to drink the stuff. Apart from the fact that it makes me a little nyabile.

My buzzer rings. He’s here. I run for the intercom.

Yes.

It’s me.

I will be right there.

One last look at my neatly wrapped gift. Only minutes left now, before it is exposed to the birthday boy. I can not wait to see the look on his face.

I open the gate. I motion with a happy wave at him through his car window. He smiles. I love his smile. My heart beats a couple of beats faster. The usual thing whenever I see him. I love that. I skip to the car. On gigantic bear hug for him, from me.

Happy Birthday! Come see what I got for you.

No, you shouldn’t have.

Yes, of course I should have. Now, come and see.

We enter the cottage. We walk down the passage into my room. The lights are dim and the telly is on. I think I can see Rajesh and Lee talking, but for just this once, I can not be bothered. Someone special in my life is about to receive something special. I turn my back on the newly found love from the majestic world of The Deep. I smile. I pick up the present and hand it to him.

Wow!

He attempts to shake it. I look worried.

Open it.

Thank you.

He puts it down on the table and begins to tear, gently, at the sellotape. Then onto the glossy paper. I can see the black and gold of the box. He is finished. He stands back and looks, very pleased.

Thank you, so much. Now, we drink.

No, not me.

I smile.

I smile because I am happy that he likes the gift.

I smile because he is smiling at me.

He bends down and gives me a warm hug. His long arms take me in and hold me safe. I feel his warm kiss on my left cheek, right cheek, forehead and then on my lips.

Do you like?

I love it. Thank you. You shouldn’t have. Thank you.

Mist. Mist. Mist. Mist. Mist.

It still hurts. Everyday, every night.

* Lost Without U - Robin Thicke *

How long does it take to heal from a broken heart?

When will I wake up with my heart fully healed?

I lie at night and want nothing but sleep,

Sleep helps me.

It’s 14:03, random, but I am still thinking,

Thinking about him.

It heals right?

I hope so, or do I really?

I know I am punishing myself so that I should never love like this again,

Words hurt,

They slice you, and you bleed.

Strong as a rock on the outside but my inner being has shattered,

Shattered beyond repair.

I must remember, I must suffer, I must hurt, I must….

Be strong.

             Soul,

                              Cut,

                                           Pain.

* Tangled - Maroon 5 *

Within the “old” South Africa, 10 homelands were created, four of which were granted “independence” by South Africa (not recognised by any other country in the world). These former South African Homelands/Bantustans ceased to exist on 27 April 1994. They have all (including the former so called independent Homelands) been reincorporated into South Africa.

The flags of the former Homelands are no longer in use (either officially or unofficially).

I was born in Ciskei.  No, it is not short for Transkei. 

Ciskei’s flag is a real simple but symbolic flag, like many nations. 

The blue in the flag is said to symbolise the infinity of the sky and the striving for progress and development. The white bar refers to the path which must be followed in order to bring this development to fruition. The Blue Crane or “Indwe” is symbolises the desire of the Xhosa people to be courageous and steadfast and to labour with diligence for the future of the country and its people. Traditionally those who distinguished themselves were decorated with feathers of the Blue Crane by the tribal Chief.
My name, Nondwe, is derivied from ‘indwe’. 

I am going through a really emotional phase at the moment in my life.

However, in Thailand my name means something totally different.  Here at camp, there are some Thai councellors and well, lets just say they have told me some really disturbing about my name.  It’s meaning in Thai language. 

Me:  (Excited to be meeting new people). Hi, I’m Nondwe.

Pie:  (Confused)  What?

Nong:  Haha… Heehee

Me:  Nondwe, my name is Nondwe.

Nong:  Haha.  Do you know what that means in Thai?

Me:  Yes, there were Thai people here last year and they told me.  (Nervously) Enlighten me, and tell me again.

Nong:  It means - ‘Can I sleep with you’  Heehee haha.  (Lol)

Me:  Ummh, thanks. (Smile)

* At My Most Beautiful -  R.E.M *

The entire camp is in danger.
There are lice.
There are head lice on camp.
Where they come from, no one knows. What they want, everyone knows. Our heads with clean hair.
I am done walking around with my braided hair all lose. Time for the good ol’ fashioned doek to come out. Iqhiya!

The mayhem started about a week and a half ago. Some kid started scratching, I guess and someone declared lice. Oh, boy! Oh, and it was a boy, and Ron (camp director) chopped off his hair. But like really badly. Now he has a bald spot at the back and he is going to Spain in a week (with family - vacation!). And he had really long beautiful hair. I’m sure his parentals are not going to be happy with Ron.
Then random cabins started to check, some cabins found some kids with it and some without.
We got our cabin checked. Clean! Thank goodness.
But the bunk next door to us was not in the clear. One kid has it. Bad!

The treatment. The whole cabin has to surrender all clothing and bed linen to the laundry people for a special wash and drying routine. Everything comes back in bin liners and all mixed up. They have to sort through it late at night.
Then everyone in the cabin needs to put olive oil in their hair, yes, all over their hair. And then put one of those see-through shower caps, and sleep like that. Horror.
Needless to say, about seven or eight bunks have gone through this treatment. The word is that the lice are now under control and have been located.
I don’t believe it for a second.
I used to do mountain biking during my off period and have stopped as there is a sharing of helmets involved with it. The mountain biking counsellors have a special lice killer spray for the helmets after each use, but I’m just being extra careful. I’m way to attached to my hair, pun intended, at the moment. No more mountain biking, or at least with a shared helmet.
It is also way too hot for a doek, but I’m doing putting it on. Heat or no heat.
I can not ever recall having lice. Now, I’m to get it in a strange country. No way, Jose.

New lice have been discovered in a new cabin. I thought they had it under control.

When will it end?

* All the small things - Blink 182 *

Girl meets Boy.

Girl and Boy become friends,

Boy and Girl become more than friends.

Boy and Girl are happy,

Boy and Girl become happier.

Girl trusts Boy,

Girl believes Boy,

Girl loves Boy.

Boy trusts Girl.

Boy believes in Girl.

Boy loves Girl.

Girl and Boy are happy.

 Girl has strong feelings for Boy,

Boy has strong feelings for Girl.

Girl wants to be appreciated more.

Boy does not understand.

Boy and Girl start seeing each other less.

Girl is concerned about the distance.

Boy does not understand.

Boy introduces Girl to his friends not.

Girl does not understand.

Boy makes no attempt to repair broken bond.

Girl is upset.

Girl wants romance.

Boy does not understand.

Girl wants commitment.

Boy does not understand.

Girl knows she should move on.

Girl can not bring herself to move on, yet.

Girl needs to forget.

Girl needs love.

Girl needs emotion.

Boy does not understand.

Girl decides for herself, it is best to let go.

Boy will not allow it.

Girl wonders why, seeing as Boy does not understand about her emotional needs.

Girls’ friends do not want Girl near Boy.

Girls’ friends do not like the way Boy treats Girl.

Boys’ friends have no idea about Girl.

Girl is worried about where her heart is taking her.

Girl is a very emotional person.

Boy does not understand.

Girl does not understand why Boy does not understand.

Girl still loves Boy.

Girl is sent a message about Boy.

Girl does not like message that was sent about Boy.

Girl finds out from message, that Boy is seeing another girl.

Girl believes message as message is from really good friend.

Girl wants nothing to do with Boy.

Girls’ friends were right from the beginning.

Girl wants nothing to do with Boy.

Girl is hurt.

Girl wants nothing to do with Boy.

Boy will not be allowed to comment on the matter. 

Girl is not going to listen to Boy.

Girl is not going to talk to Boy.

Girl is not going to listen to Boy.

Too much hurt.

                           Soul,

                                                     Cut,

                                                                           Pain.

* In Repair - John Mayer *