Letter 24/24: Exhausted regards

Dear 2024

I hope this final letter finds you well. Yes, I’ve located my manners. I’ve had enough time to voice out my grievances to you. 

Today is definitely the shortest day of your timeline. The 24 hours just isn’t enough homegirl. I can’t feel my feet but, I’m glad we’re bidding you farewell soon. 

Yesterday I saw a furniture shop van. Took my back to childhood. How these would deliver furniture in my neighbourhood and how the same van would come and collect it. I didn’t really understand what was happening as a child but I always associated that with embarrassment. This memory is linked to another one from my childhood. A happier one. One when newspapers used to come with furniture catalogues. As kids, we’d often lay pretend and pick which furniture we preferred. It got interesting when it came to the fridges. We picked ones with the most interesting food. We didn’t care about the features or the reality that they came empty from the shop. 

As you take your final bow, 2024, I attach you to both these memories. I’m praying that Father Time comes to take you and all your low moments like those furniture vans. People hardly helped to pack up but, today, I’m helping the Universe as she collects. I’m too young to cross over with the lows. They have served their purpose and no longer have room in my system. 

The little girl in me can’t help look towards the next year like she used look at those furniture catalogues. I’m picking the fridge filled with hope, strength and anticipation. Gratitude too. 

You were hectic mogirl but for what it’s worth, thank you 2024. Thank you for life and her lessons. 

Exhausted regards,

Linda 

Letter 15/24: Cactus Plants

Hello 2024, 

I hope you’re well. Today’s letter is another reflection dedication. I find myself wanting to say the same thing to a couple of people. Writing different letters wouldn’t make sense but, this same one will have different meanings to each of them. 

You know how I’m a village girl? I was exposed to plants at a very young age. Cactus plants were never appealing to me. I didn’t really like your typical plants though. Before you judge, I was more of an aloe girl. This wasn’t voluntary though 🤣. Someone thought smearing the juice on my fingers would make me stop sucking them. Epic fail.  Backfired so badly that, that’s one of my favourite tastes of all time. 

Adulting has taught me to appreciate the traits of Cactus plants. If I were to compare our bond to anything, it would be them. We hardly talk but when we do, it’s lit. I never feel the need to explain my absence. I never have to strip myself and list reasons why I’ve been MIA or hiding. I also don’t have to compete with those who have been present while I missed out on memories. This makes it so easy for me to fill you in on my mgowo lows and private highs. I guess I proved myself once to you and you were sold. Thank goodness! 

If I were to ever need a witness to prove I’m an introvert at heart who is willing to talk once you know them - I’d call you. Look, you know because you were the extrovert who saw me and adopted me 🤣

You know this year has been one of my lowest and yet, you’ve treated me like we’ve just met and we talk every other day. Thank you for sharing your answered prayers with me, thank you for the calls that make me feel like I’m on top of the world…thank you for the tea. 

Next year, we should be intentional about keeping in touch 🫂… 

Letter 14/24: The colour Purple

 Dear 2024, 

I hope that you’re well. I was tired yesterday.  Still tired today. I’m starting to sound like a broken record about this. I know. It’s just that it’s also fatigue season 🙆🏾‍♀️. Today’s reflection is a letter to purple.

I can pinpoint exactly to when I knew how to get purple - Arts and Culture. What a class! Let’s just say I was a rebellious teenager who didn’t get it. A part of adult me still doesn’t but, I won’t get into it. I just remember being let in on the concept of purple by my people and immediately getting it 😂. I recall being grateful for the knowledge I hadn’t appreciated back in the day. The point, 2024, is that this knowledge is part of the silver lining and part of the “why”.

2024, Purple is always a constant reminder of my why. Purple knows me. Purple has seen different shades of me. Purple has set the friendship bar high. Purple wishes my favourite colour wasn’t my favourite colour 🤣. If I were kidnapped, I’d probably send signals to Purple and they would get it. 

Blue holds your hand and sits with you. Red is a constant who never lets you walk alone. Purple comes with so much awesomeness that you’d swear it carries the rainbow on its shoulders. Blessed to know you, thankful for those laughs and missed punchlines but, above all…grateful for each moment we’ve shared in 2024. 

Here’s to infinity and beyond…

Letter 12/24: 12 Things I like(d) about you

 Hello 2024, 

How are you? 

“Big days” fatigue has set in but, we keep going. We usually have the Stan list tradition on the blog. This year we’re switching things up. Okay the truth is we’re taking advantage of the even number of letters and we’re being corny 🙈🤣. There’s a list of 24 things - 12 I like(d) and 12 I didn’t like with a twist. 

12 things I liked about you 2024

1. All Mondays when I didn’t have to adult 😂
2. What an AFCON! - my faith is Bafana Bafana has been restored. 
3. Being given the front row seat to answered prayers - thank you for sharing your joy 🙌🏽
4. Team SA at the Olympics 
5. I’ve mentioned the weight gain before but, who’s counting? 😂
6. You know that thing that happened a lot in SA and we haven’t really seen it since before the elections? It that shall not be named. Yes, that one. May it remain there. 
7. Pretty Yende’s recent performance at the Notre Dame re-opening 🙌🏽
8. All the little ways I showed up for myself. 
9. So many SA productions blew up on Netflix. Watched a lot out of loyalty but, if I were to pick I’d give my 🍿 to How to Ruin love,  Blood legacy and Disaster Holiday.
10. I started watching Kaizer Chiefs games again.  Not completely there yet but, it’s for life? Isn’t it? 
11. The support Chris Brown’s fans showed him - go where you are loved! 
12. You’re not going to last forever. We’re closer to bidding you farewell, 2024 🤣😉

See? There are some things I actually like(d) about you…

Letter 11/24: Takala

Good evening 2024, 

Today is a good day for joy. Right? Today’s letter is another dedication. Like the previous one, the privacy will be respected. 

I can’t really remember how we happened, we did and it just made sense. It’s been making sense for a while now and I’m so grateful. 

You remind me of who I used to be. Some days this scares me. Like, where did the time go? Some days it’s exciting. Remember when we used to pray for our “future”? We’re living in parts of those prayers. Sort of feels like being in a restaurant and enjoying a multi course meal. We’re still waiting in anticipation for what’s to come. 

I say like, because God doesn’t work like that. He probably threw out half the things we thought we needed and is busy cooking up something else. I’m so grateful for how he orchestrated our meeting. 

Sis, I appreciate how you ground me to peace and joy despite what’s happening. I love how the concept of “crazy ideas” has a different meaning in our vocabulary. I’m proud of how brave you are. I could go on and on but, here are your flowers 💐. 

Time has been kind to us. I look forward to the memories we’re hoping and praying to make. 

Disclaimer: this letter was drafted before our call this morning. Mind blowing stuff…right? 🤣♥️ 

Letter 10/24: iiBig days

 Hello 2024, 

I trust you’re well. Today I’ll be schooling you on some official, yet unofficial, culture we have down here. 

So December is different for everyone but, around here, we don’t think it’s a month for peak productivity. It’s a month for rest. We usually host our family gatherings during this time. It really is the season to be jolly and we don’t miss on hitting that button. We mostly refer to these days as “iibig days”. There are many ways to put it, this is just mine. 

This week, for me, is when the big days arrive. You can’t tell the days apart, holiday season hits and the idea of rest isn’t suddenly foreign. Yes, I said idea because once you hit that adulting mark…you become the adult. You can’t pretend like you’re not there. No tantrum is going to get you out of it. Don’t get me started on how you suddenly view those seven colour meals differently 🤣. Be that as it may, like coke with less sugar, I still enjoy iibig days. 

Days like today give me joy that we’re about to bid you farewell, 2024. I’m not wishing you away. I’m not avoiding the reality of facing you. I’ve been been facing you. You and the extra day you came with. I’m just delighted that I’ll be facing you less, lesser and well…let me stop there 🤣

Letter 8/24: Hello Hope

 Hello 2024,

How are you? This letter was supposed to come out yesterday but life happened. Had to move it to today. The idea was the take you to church. I say let’s go still. Who said church is only meant for Sunday? 😂

If this letter could have a soundtrack, it would be Hello Fear and Fear is not my future 🤞🏽. Both these songs have been part of my lifeline on your timeline. 

You know how people say joy comes in the morning? Not for me. Hope comes in the morning for me. I’ve said this to your predecessors, 2024, and this year just anchored this for me. When the heavens and the universe were deciding which superpower should belong to who, someone in the higher ups decided to give me Hope. 

I’m such a hopeful being. I’m hopeful to a fault. I’m hopeful to the point that logic doesn’t govern me. Some may say this is associated with faith. I wouldn’t disagree. I’d just say I’m so hopeful that I’m starting to wonder if I was bit by the hope spider. 

This reflection is an ode to Hope. Hope, I marvel at how you bring back my smile after every brick wall or stumbling block. I appreciate how much of a mediator you are. Gratitude and I wouldn’t be here we are today if you hadn’t been around. You’re there for my highs, you sit with me during my lows and you’re just always looking out for me.  You’re kind to every part of me. Well, maybe not so much to my Ego. You’re always telling me to ditch that hun. We fight a lot about this and I’m working on it. 

2024, thank you for not messing up what I have going with Hope. She reminds me of people who taught me about her. Although, hidden by death, I know what they’d say to me: Have Hope because God is good. Can the church say Amen?

Letter 7/24: Jinx

 Good evening 2024, 

I’m so exhausted. No, it’s not on you. It’s my own doing. I walked so much today that I may have lost a kg. Tragic, considering that I was celebrating this just yesterday. Bad things happen to good people yazi (you know). 

How exactly do you tell embarrassing stories? Do you go straight to the punchline? Do you go around in circles hoping the listener will lose concentration before you get to your point? Do you tell it as is, then explain? I’m so tired for this maths. I’ll just shoot. 

I had an important errand to run today. Most “convenient” place I could do it was at a mall. If you know me, you’re probably throwing in a Hail Mary for me right now. You’d be spot on because wow, your girl needed it. I thought I remembered how to get to where I needed to go. I was well on the route before a bright idea to “try something new” came to mind and I took in. Did I not get lost? 🤣🙆🏾‍♀️

I walked around that mall so much. You know those people who click on every button on the elevator? That was me. Eventually, the Xhosa lite in me took the lead. I walked up to a security guard, cleaned up my kitchen Zulu and asked for directions. Mind you, I’m exhausted and panicked at this point, so my accent is definitely giving off but it was that or becoming a December scam. I think my locks were even loose at this point. I followed the instructions and after I was done, I went back to calculating my way out of there. What happens on the left should happen on the right. Right? Let’s just say i didn’t make it out of there the same way I came. 

 

I’m exhausted but what if today I discovered my own short cuts? Next time I go there I’ll navigate like a pro 🤣. Maybe not. I’ll avoid that place for as long as I can and by the time I need to go back, I should probably stick to the original plan 🤣

Moral of the story, this weight thing ain’t my friend! I may have even jinxed myself by celebrating yesterday but, you know what? I’ll stick out this unrequited love thing 🤣🤣🤣

Letter 6/24: A win

 Hello 2024, 

It’s Friyay! One of my favourite days of the week. I come (mostly) in peace. 

My reflection today makes me think back to my worst subject back in high school. The anxiety of waiting for the results to come back. Knowing exactly that the test/exam knocked you out but,  hoping for a miracle. Isn’t that what they are? 🤣

The bandage gets ripped off and you find out how you did. Today I’m thinking about the times went things went South East and I found myself grateful that they could have gone South. Or even worse South West 🤣

I’ve had my fair share of Ls this year. Ls in all shapes and sizes. Look, I like the letter but Yho…Ls made me wonder if the word couldn’t have been spelt differently. While I acknowledge them, today I’d like to focus on a W. 

I gained weight! Yes, me. Miss barely got to a certain kg target on the scale for over a decade me. Your girl is within and if luck sticks around…may cruise into the next target. This is something I’ll remember you by, 2024. I was expecting things to go South but, they went North 🤣🙌🏽

Help me raise a glass, friends. This has been one tough battle and I feel like I have conquered…💪🏽🥳💃🏽

Letter 5/24: Izinja

 Heita 2024, 

How are you today? Going through a bit of nostalgia today. Going through some emotions that English can’t express. One thing you should know about me is that music is my go to for expression. I find that it speaks the language of my soul. So, I’ll be taking you through my playlist. 

I was raised by Kwaito. It never leaves me. December is actually a time when it’s at its peak. Trust me, when 1 December comes TKZee’s Dlala Mapantsula is already at the back of my mind. I join the masses who honour this day as our official “Hellooooo December” 🤣

Different, and too many to mention here, songs speak to me each December. Depending on where I am emotionally, where my reflections land me or which dish life and her lessons serve me. There’s always an almost constant one though. Brenda Fassie will always be there. I spent too many festive seasons listening to my neighbour have her in full blast. Too many songs to list. There’s that one year when a member of my family wouldn’t get over Mafikizolo’s udakwa njalo. I still hear them go on “kudakwa onemali, onenyuku” 🤣. My version of Malaika’s Destiny - that you took away from me 2024 🤣. So so many songs. 

One I couldn’t get out of my system today is Mapaputsi’s Izinja. So sad that he left us on your timeline, 2024. You know how the world is always on “All I want for Christmas is you” mode? I get into this mode. Every year without fail it hits me how akusafani nakudala umuntu angene house to house acele iHappy. That line must be one of my favourite lines of all times. I could write an entire paper breaking it down. A loose translation is: things aren’t like back in the day when someone could go into every household and ask for treats. Referring to the South African Christmas tradition that was similar to the whole trick or treat one. I say similar because “iHappy” was next level. Let me not get carried away. 

Things have changed - in the world, in this country…in my own life. I’m looking at how much I’ve changed. Sitting with my reasons why, questioning and laughing at a lot. I miss how naive I used to be, I miss who I used to be before some lessons but…kura uone. Right? 

I mentioned the kodwa moments ne? My kodwa moment is just being at peace with having to grow up. I’m just embracing how things have changed, I’m missing the good old days and I’m just emracjng that ak’safani nakudala…

Letter 4/24: Rest

 Hey 2024,

You good? Today let’s talk about the foreign concept of resting. 

It’s that time of the year when the system refuses to switch on fully. Autopilot isn’t autopiloting. Fatigue is as its peak and your whole being is just hoping that December gets to be December. Or December lite rather. Because the adulting package comes with responsibility at all times. You’re so tired you wish you could go back to childhood and play even harder - because that wasn’t tired. That was fun to be continued. 

Adulting gives tired a whole new look. It’s a constant state of being. This time of the year, however, almost makes it feel like oxygen. Like, what is the end of the year without fatigue? What do you mean you’re not tired? Weren’t you busy being “productive” during the year? Are you one of those “at least there is a glass” type of people? 

Today is one of those days when the lessons you’re trying to avoid sneak up on you. The ones that don’t make you look cute at all. Absolutely nothing demure about them either. Ones that you absolutely need…

Matthew 11:28 came knocking by my door today. It wasn’t alone. It carried the gift of an epiphany. One which left me with a deep longing for rest. Not the kind where your mind is still buzzing with open tabs. Not the kind which makes you wish your feet could shrink back to their normal shape and size. Not the kind when you can’t even tell 6 from 9. The kind which surpasses human understanding…

Letter 1/24: Iyhooo

2024, 

I hope this finds you. 

Usually that sentence is accompanied by well wishes and manners. I’m not quite sure what to say to you. How does one address a villain? Homegirl, if you weren’t the Thanos of years, I’d probably have nice adjectives. You were. So, I’m just hoping this finds you…

Welcome to a longstanding tradition of reflective epistolaries which mark the end of the year. I must confess, things were so hectic on your timeline that I almost broke this tradition. I mean, how do you say “it was hectic” in 24 different ways? I know I don’t have the enough English to do that. Luckily for you, fate decided otherwise. 

You’ve served painful lessons, 2024. They came in different shapes and sizes. Lessons I can openly talk about, lessons I can laugh at to lessons which shook my being to the core. You may be the reason why I one day need a slightly bigger grave space…because I’m definitely taking some lessons you served with me there! 

You’ve been the iyhoooo to my Solomon, a dictator to my system and just crippling. I don’t know who put up my name on the strong persons list on your timeline but, I pray they forget the correct spelling next year. I hope they forget it even the year after. Infinity wouldn’t even be enough. Iyhooo! 

I look forward to wrapping up your final days…