7 August 2009 Elders' time at Hermanus

One more irreversible step. There are some elders who do not yet know. There is a process to these things. The dog gets out the bag as soon as it can. The cat gets let out of the bag slowly. Cats preen themselves, and then stretch, and then yawn. You would think they have never been in the bag. I never realized how many layers there are to unravel in sharing such news.

Thomo tells the elders as we gather for the session after breakfast. The news is received strangely. Light and sound travel at different speeds. So does news and implication. Like the hare the news reaches first; the tortoise slowly brings the implication. Everyone looks pretty sombre. Have they just heard that Britain is at war with Germany? Or have they just heard that the Germans have surrendered, but it is unconfirmed, so don't celebrate yet?

It is historic. Then it is sad. Then it is joyful. Then it is overwhelming. Then it is normal. Then it is unbelievable.

The Thomsons, the Madonkos, the Kloppers, the Shepherds, the Chadwicks. United in the trenches; victorious in departure.