The last Friday of the month has rolled around – again! Time for bloggers around the world to post a piece of good news that helps to uplift the mood and lessen the tension that anyone may be experiencing in these strange and disturbing times.

This is the purpose of #WATWB .. to highlight stories that spread good will, good thought and feeling, stories that are different, maybe a little unusual, that show a person, or an organisation, an event ‘paying it forward’ – many times illustrating people who rise above their circumstances and have a good news story to tell. With the aid of another or others and that’s person sense of courage and fortitude, much can be and is achieved.

My contribution is a little different. It popped up on my FB feed a few days ago as a memory. It’s a 4 year old post put up by David Scott. Given that my last month’s post for #WATWB was tilted ‘say no to racism’ I thought it appropriate to ‘use’ this one, this time round. A young man’s observations – and another ‘no to racism’ – and some hope in looking forward to what is possible – catching the wave –

David Scott is feeling hopeful

27 October 2016  · Cape Town  · Yesterday, I saw something quite profound. I was sitting in the water on my surfboard at Muizenberg & the offshore wind had created spray from the waves, which cast a rainbow. As I saw this, I noticed that the rainbow was arching over the children beneath it, black & white – all enjoying themselves in the ocean. I was touched by their interaction – the black kids were pushing white kids into the waves, the white kids were cheering the black kids on when they caught the wave – they were all getting enjoyment out of seeing the other succeed. I was reminded that in order to see this picture, I had to paddle past the breakers. What we see with the student protests can often feel like waves smashing into us, knocking us back – but without them, there would be no spray to cast the rainbow. It gave me hope that Mandela & Tutu’s idea of a rainbow nation is not so crazy after all. We may be a long way from it, but what I saw yesterday showed me that true democracy is not as far fetched as it sounds. It’s also why I love surfing at Muizenberg. There’s such a diversity of people there but your social status is irrelevant – everyone is equal in the water.

Surfing rules in Muizenberg | SA Country Life
This actually is a photo of the Muizenberg beach 🙂

Please pop by and visit our co-hosts for this month. Our thanks to them. Their stories are sure to be wonderful, uplifting & restorative – Our co-hosts are Sylvia McGrath Mary J. Giese Shilpa Garg
Sylvia Stein and  Belinda McGrath Witzenhausen

Click HERE to check out the intention and rules of the blogfest and feel free to sign up at any time. You are always welcome!

Click HERE  to sign up for this if you’d like to. The linky list will open up in a new window.

Thank you for reading. May you be well and safe and have a lovely weekend. May the Force be with you ..

62 Comments on #WATWB catching the wave

  2. Touching and relevant story, in these times. We just had a huge win in the U.S. with the election and hopefully an end to a racist administration, so this story is very timely.

    Just reading about Muizenberg beach brings a smile to my face as I remember years gone by, another era, going there with my grandfather who so enjoyed the waves, even though he did not know how to swim. In those days it was a “whites only” beach. How wonderful to have the beaches be open and enjoyed by all the peoples of a country.

    Peta

    • Hi Peta, great to see you here, thanks for coming by. I remember that you are currently in the US to see family and you must all be overjoyed at the election result.

      I was in Cape Town fairly recently, and stopped in at Muizenberg en route to Kalk Bay, took my shoes off and bathed my feet in the sea for a few moments, watching exactly what was described in David’s post from 4 years back, children and adults of all shades and stripes in the sea, walking on the beach, along the promenade … beaches were clean and tidy and were the streets … a real pleasure!

      All best to you, Susan

  7. If only the human race could embrace their differences rather than create division and hate, we could all share the waves of the ocean and life together. Thanks for a little piece of hope amid racial turmoil for this month’s #WATWB.

    • Thanks Mary. Glimpses of harmony are a delight and make me believe that it’s more than possible. Other forces are at play at driving racial tension. Thinking of you all this coming week … actually, we’ve been thinking of the US from afar for a very long time now –

        • Thanks John, I’ve had a look and will read the link soon. Heading for shut eye. It looks most interesting. Ooooh I wish I could read it now, but needs must … 🙂 But just to add, we face similar concerns here in South Africa … a brief comment from me, that scapegoating is alive and well since time immemorial –

          • I’ve just read the link thanks John. A very serious and dense read that encapsulated so much. Now it’s Saturday 7th Nov., Biden seems to be winning the race. The next 72 days until election will no doubt be rife with strife according to Mary Trump Potus’ niece I think or cousin. I heard her this morning saying words to that effect. Her fear is that if Potus goes down, he will take all along with him. Best to be prepared I suppose. Thank you for this very interesting read. It is wise to have the attitude of a Buddhist, that all things are impermanent.

    • Thanks Barbara .. today (I’m in Cape Town away from home 550 kms or so away) i drove to Muizenberg and dipped my feet in the sea, and saw surfers of all shades having a grand time. I later met up with David in a little town further down – Kalk Bay, and told him of the post … 🙂

  12. Beautiful story and message Susan – everyone is born equal, time to get it through everyone’s heads. I think the much of the world is on pins and needles for the US countdown. <3

  13. I loved David’s story. I used to body surf, so David’s story brought back many memories. As David had to get past the crest of the wave to see the rainbow, I’m praying that 2016 was the crest of our wave and that SOON we too will see a rainbow with people getting along instead of hating one another. Surf’s up and I’m praying for the right wave!

    • Glad you had some happy memories Gwynn! There’re some interesting analogies I’m thinking as I read your comment .. like coming into shore on the wave. As you say Surf’s up!!! May this happen next week. Thanks for coming by, have a great weekend 🙂

  14. You have definitely passed on the impulse for those hopeful, helpful acts of kindness to David. How lovely that he can see the rainbow beyond the breakers and share it with readers.

    May you feel the joy you spread to others, dear Susan! 🙂

    • Thank you Marian, you twigged that David is my son 🙂 Well, I was pleasantly surprised to see it pop up and was happy to use it, also because I know Muizenberg, a little way out of Cape Town. I was there just the other day, visiting a friend.

      You are a spreader of joy Marian, thank you for saying this of me 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend .. golly Tuesday is nearly here –

  15. Thank you for taking me on this ride with David and the children, Susan. This is the way things ought to be. We’re quietly hopeful for a better government in the United States, but quietly after the shock of 2016. A little breath holding while we wait. This piece helps me take a long sighing exhalation. It felt so good to vote yesterday. Everyone at the polling station was gentle, masked and polite since we’re all walking on egg shells. With love and hope

    • I spend a lot of time holding my breath Elaine. I’m holding it for your election too. Well done for voting at the actual poll station. Lovely to have that interaction. I remember the excitement 26 years ago when we voted in Mr. Mandela, our first democratically elected president. Heaven for a few years but since about 2007 things have gone down down down … we’re hoping that our current president can pull us out of this morass but … it may be too late. Ugh .. I hate to say it. A miracle is needed. May a miracle come your way too. Love and hope to you too …

  16. Hi Susan – yes … kids show us the way – they play, they chat, they care … life is for one and all – wonderful to read David’s thoughts … a rainbow over the children … delightful and hopeful – all the best and stay safe – Hilary (and hope you’re feeling better now).

    • Thanks Hilary for coming by. Thank heavens for children who have an un*adult*erated view on life. Some adults too! I know you’re one of them. Still in the thick of it healthwise; it peaked yesterday I like to think – today much better thank you but lying low. All best to you too, stay well and safe and have a lovely weekend 🙂

  17. I don’t understand racism. It makes no sense to me. And I’m appalled at the anti-Semitism popping up in mostly Democrat cities (New York comes to mind) that profess to be even-handed and open-minded. I just have to be more verbal about my disgust for those modalities.

    • Ah Jacqui I share your concern. Racism is a form of scapegoating …
      Good luck for election day. Have a lovely weekend and thank you for coming by.

  18. Thank you Susan for sharing David’s inspiring story and letting us ride this wave together! What I enjoyed most was that in an ordinary moment David encountered the extraordinary. Oh, and how wise of him to intuit that without the waves there would be no spray to cast a universally loved rainbow! Very inspiring and good to know that Muizenberg beach is a welcoming place that equalizes all. Sending love and light across the oceans between us, Deborah.

    • Thank you for seeing the paradox of the ordinary with the extraordinary Deborah! It was sort of hovering – that thought of ‘ordinary and extraordinary’ but never quite came to full articulation so an extra thanks for saying this and for commenting! Love and light to you too and have a wonderful weekend 🙂

      • It’s amazing isn’t it how the “extraordinary” happens in “ordinary” moments. Oh, I’ve just read on Elaine’s blog that you haven’t been feeling well of late so I hope this weekend is filled with plenty of rest and recovery under Samhain’s Super Full Moon. x

        • Thanks Deborah. I think the illness peaked yesterday – a baddie for sure 🙁 Happy Full Moon to you, chilly here in Cape Town. But will be standing out in the chill to check her out (my sister Debora will be horrified, INSIDE she’ll say, INSIDE. Do you want to catch your death?) 🙂 🙂 xx

  20. What a lovely story! Togetherness is naturally human.

    Physical appearances, language we speak, our religious beliefs, the state we come from, food that we eat, etc are all just labels. They don’t and shouldn’t matter. What should, instead, matter are who we are in terms of our behavioural attributes, sincerity, humility, respect we give to others etc.

    Celebration time for quintuplet family

    • Thanks Pradeep, so right, togetherness is naturally human, the need for social bonds. Outward labels mean little. The ordinary virtues we hopefully live by, as for example, respect for others as you say, would make this world a far happier place. Have a great weekend 🙂

  21. I see your post in my inbox, Susan, and I am reminded how fast the months go by. I welcome good news always, and especially lately. Great phrases “rise above their circumstances”….”sense of courage and fortitude.”

    This is a new take on the rainbow analogy, by including the spray to cast the rainbow. Very profound and moving words “…social status is irrelevant – everyone is equal in the water.”

    Thank you, Susan for sharing a beautiful and hopeful post. Watching “our” children play always gives me hope for the future.❤️

    • I was with dear friends last Saturday (outside Cape Town) and 3 of her grandchildren were with them as one of their sons was celebrating a significant birthday over the weekend. It was joy for me to see these youngsters at play and interacting.. .one a boy of 10, his brother I think 6 or 7 and their cousin a little girl of nearly 4. Lovely children, each unique in temperament – So for me this was upfront and personal, whereas this post was an observation at a distance so to speak! We continue to hope like anything we can leave them a decent and creative future. Thanks for coming by Erica, I really appreciate it. Have a lovely weekend:)

      • You are right, Susan, about watching the children upfront and personal. I am in awe how they interact and share wisdom far beyond their years. Take care and have a good weekend.

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