for mariam ...

Mariam Ebrahim (1990-2013) 

When I first met Mariam I immediately knew I was going to like her. She was my cousin’s best friend and after having our first conversation I could officially say she was my friend too. Yes that’s how it works!! Pssssssh.

Moving on… I loved everything about her. She always had this warm smile that made you feel like she was actually listening to you, like for that few minutes you mattered. She would always encourage me to do the weirdest things. And that’s what made me love her more. I didn’t really spend much time with her but when I did it was always amazing. She played the guitar like an angel. Once she even played me a tune from an Indian song just too see me excited. It was Epic!!

Mari-uhm or Mari Buffy was the kind of person you know you can always depend on. No matter what was happening in your life.  She had the aura around her that just makes any one smile. In fact she herself had one of the cutest smiles ever. It usually made her look naughty but adorable nonetheless. She was our go-to person for series and movies and a real Hookah kop. She made me try my first E-cig and was my form of defense when my cousin tried to yell at me for doing the wrong things. 

Mariam became part of our family as well. She was always there when we had family functions and every single family member knew who she was. Eventually people even started asking ‘where’s Mariam?’ when she was nowhere to be seen. For the time that I knew her, she always kept her promises and stayed true to her word. She was straight-forward. No beating around the bush. The way she walked, the way she talked, the way she gave ‘death stares at people that didn’t agree with her… everything about this amazing human being was well…amazing.

So today as we tell ourselves that you in a better place. It doesn’t stop us from missing you terribly.  I know for a fact that my cousin is having a really hard time but that I have this assurance that you are here with us…or even with me as I type this now…laughing at me getting all emotional. There are so many things that remind us of you every day. Anything British or red or whenever we see someone rocking a leather jacket, we always telling each other how you would’ve made it look cooler.

You were taken away from us too soon for me to tell you the impact you’ve made on the lives of me and my family and I didn’t really get the chance to say goodbye but I think I’ll save the formalities for when we meet again.

I was going to end with something cheesy so I closed my eyes, thought of you and saw you smiling and standing ready to give me a high-five… I figure that’s suffice buddy.

I hope you flying with the angels, friend.

We love you always and forever.

The Holi Festival of Colours

Traditions...Customs...Religion.
Words I hear all to often in my family. We the younger generation always have to listen that Our elders always know best. Im still undecided whether i believe that or not but i can say im am truly blessed to be part of a family that lets us interact and participate in different customs and traditions but having us bare in mind who we truly are and where we come from.

Although Im Indian and a muslim I can say I've been to mosque, church, a temple and hopefully soon id really like to go to a synagogue. All my life growing up with bollywood movies playing all the time and infact me dreaming of being a bollywood star someday(it could still happen!! you never know!!) ive always wanted to partake in a Holi celebration. And when I 1st heard about the festival riiiiight at the begining of the year i knew i had to be attending it!
Before i knew it, my tickets were booked and I was living on the high of attending my 1st festival of colour.

We, my friends and I arrived at the Sahara Park in Newlands all dressed in Sparkling Snow White. we could feel the excitement as we stood in line to collect our sachets of powder. There was so much to look forward to!! We made sure we stood in the very front of the stage and didnt move from or spot. The music started and pretty soon everyone around us was dancing! and then it hapenned!! our 1st colour burst. Everyone ripped a sachet open and all we saw was colours!! its was magical!! I would say that it wasnt as colourful as we see in my bollywood dreams but it was so much fun. the weather was temperamental. 1st it rained..then the sun came out...then it rained..and we stood ther soaking wet..then the sun appeared again and i was certain I was going to catch a cold! But the rain didnt deter anyone..infact I think it just made everything more fun. Every hour we had a countdown to our next Colour burst! we were entertained by Pascal&Peirce, LCNVL and we were supose to have MIcasa on stage but they were aparently cancelled. Bummer. Dancers performed wearing nothing but bodypaint and one of my near and dear friends got to touch her. He even made it to the paper and to this day wont let us forget it ;). His other half is a Super LCNVL fan and refused to move till they performed. The event was really successfull. everyone was standing in unison..smashed with different colours and Literally looking like the Rainbow nation we hear all too often.

 

The highlight of my day was definatly getting home all dirty and seeing the expression of my family members! They didnt even recognise me!

  A hot shower and mug of Milo later and I was gone...deep into dreamland with my favourite spongebob blanket and I can honestly say it was the best sleep ever.

My day in one word: Amazeballs

ooooooh and shout out to Adnaan,Ceagan and Lesley for making it as Legendary as it was.