Happy birthday Cat!
It's my mama's birthday today. She didn't want gifts this year. Rather, she asked for something personal. So Kit-Cat, this is why you rock and why I love ya so. x
- You said you knew I was 'different' from a young age and you let me be me. I know I was a bit of a terror growing up. Attaching dolls heads to my boots. Covering my room with metal posters. But you always accepted me. With green hair. With pink hair. With concerned calls from teachers. You loved me, you loved my friends, you let me study creative stuff and encouraged me every step of the way.
- You had a pretty rocking taste in music when I was growing up. You raised me on The Rolling Stones, Dire Straits, The Bangles, The Who, The Beatles...so many great bands. I inherited my love for rock from you.
- You took me to see that Yellow Submarine play when I was little. That was awesome.
- You bought me a talking Pikachu when I wrote my final art exam - I loved that thing!
- You cook a pretty mean chocolate pizza cake. Please cook that again sometime soon.
- When I was in hospital that one time as a kid, you always made sure I had notepads and kokis to draw with.
- You have a huge heart for people and know the life stories of various waiters, waitresses, broom-sellers and security guards across Durban!
- You designed that music fest poster one year and then we road-tripped there, listening to the The Who's "Tommy" album a hundred times over.
- You came to every art exhibit and dance recital.
- When I was thirteen, you brought me green hair spray and Nirvana shirts from London - epic!
- You used to throw some pretty crazy parties. I guess I get my love for a good jol from you, eh!
- You and dad paid for my guitar lessons and drove me to them every Saturday for two years.
- You trusted me. I did admittedly get up to a couple of crazy things in highschool but nothing that crazy because I always wanted to honour your trust.
- Whenever I do something that makes you proud, you broadcast it to the whole world. That kinda embarrasses the life out of me but I appreciate it :)
- You made that sassy, silver Standard Nine dance dress for me. Goal - to get back into that thing!
- We won't talk about the time we called Claire Johnston from Mango Groove. But looking back, that was pretty hilarious.
- You made flapjacks for us when we went camping.
- When I told you I had been chatting to a guy, you asked me if it was the singer from Seether. Lols! I think you would have read about that in Heat if that were the case.
- When I collapsed in your couch with a crumpled heart, you watched Hope Floats with me.
- If I'm curious about a certain subject, you're bound to have a book on it.
- You let us get dogs even though you weren't a dog person. And you love those crazy dogs as much as we do. Thank you for looking after them and playing with them every day.
- Remember when we went to London a month before I moved there? That holiday was epic. But I was gripped with fear for the first few days. I suddenly didn't want to move there anymore because I didn't think I could cope in such a fast-paced city. You brought me coffee and tissues when I got teary in Starbucks. And when I felt too depressed to leave our dorm, you insisted I pull on my boots so we could go to an indie club in Notting Hill. And that night was so much fun, it filled me with excitement to move! And a few nights later, we went to the Electric Ballroom and we rocked out with all these metalheads. And then we went to watch the Breeders. You fell asleep in the back of the club (which is both hilarious and dangerous - thank goodness a bouncer was watching over you) but luckily you fell asleep because you missed me almost being crushed to death and then being crowd-surfed to safety. Then we took the wrong bus home. Mad times!
- I know I can be awkward as heck when it comes to expressing emotion sometimes, but I do love you Kit-Cat. Thanks for being such a great mom. Love La x
