I
recently became an aunt for the second time around when my sister gave birth to
her second beautiful baby girl. That news in itself was pretty exciting for the
entire family and me too but I personally jumped over the moon when, for the
first time ever, I was asked to be godmother to the newly arrived bundle of
joy! After the euphoria settled, I found that the tag (or different versions of
it) followed me. For example, if I entered the room where the baby was, I’d
immediately hear “Look baby girl, it’s your godma.” When the little one cried
because she needed a nappy change, a yell would ensue, “Madrinha your godchild
needs to be changed” or better yet, “Come on! Time to fulfill your godmother
duties.” Funny how being made a godmother gets other people out of their
familial responsibilities! But I was happy to do whatever was asked of me
(including the surrender of my name for godma and madrinha) because just the
title made me feel more mature as well
as
responsible.
But
I didn’t realise just how responsible I’d need to be until I went to meet my
parish priest to procure the letter that would state that I was capable of
handling the charge I was being given. After sitting with him for what seemed
like a shaming session of what I did and didn’t know with regard to my new
role, I left with a lot to think about – how to raise the little one in our
religion alongside her parents, how to teach her right from wrong, etc… I
wasn’t too stressed about this because I knew that my sister and brother-in-law
were on the ball and I could just fill in the gaps (if any). But what had me
worried was how to positively impact her life and lead by example. As I wracked
my brains for worthy godparent role models, my own godfather came to mind.
David
has always donned many hats: from the domestic ones of son, brother, uncle,
husband and father, to those of friend, confidant, actor, teacher, writer and
absent-minded professor. But, for me, he is a worldly humanitarian. From the
time I could remember, David has always given of himself to those less
fortunate and in need and strived to make and keep people happy. When I spent
weekends and holidays at my grandmother’s, despite everything else he had going
on, he would make it a point to sit me on his bike every evening, take me down to
Colva beach and treat me to some ice-cream and a new experience every day. One
day we would be building sand castles and the next he’d have an artist friend
join us and teach me how to draw the setting sun. Safe to say, he’s as
unpredictable as they come! From wanting to wear jeans to his wedding to taking
his newly-wedded bride (fresh out from the church) home on his motorbike, he
has done it all!
At
times, he’s also generous to a fault, always and forever putting others ahead
of himself and espousing the causes of the victimised. From leading the
agitation and propelling the investigation of the murder of two brothers back
in the day to protesting the fate and plight and fighting for the rights of the
Palestinians, he has fought shoulder to shoulder and tooth and nail for people
he has no connection to whatsoever, sacrificing energy, money and quality time
with his family in the bargain.
Despite
his valiant efforts, people spurn him, mock him and deride him. But for me, he
is my own, home-grown, worthy-of-winning-a-Nobel-Peace-Prize hero and I
wouldn’t have him any other way. Walk tall David, believe in what you do and
know that if I can become even a millionth of the person that you are, I’d
consider myself a winner…
