Die onkruid verberg byna die grafsteen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2019n Mens kan net-net die naam uitmaak en dat die man 45 jaar oud geword het. \u2019n Mooi boodskappie \u2013 waarskynlik deur familielede.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dit is so hartseer dat begraafplase in talle dorpe en stede oor ons land heen in so \u2019n skokkende toestand is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jy sien die perfek versorgde begraafplase in Europa en Amerika en wil jou kop in skaamte laat sak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dat daar so min respek in ons land is vir die mense wat voor ons hier was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tog is dit nie \u2019n naam op \u2019n grafsteen wat jou laat bly voortleef nie: Dit is herinneringe wat ander van jou het.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daar is mense met wie ek \u2019n diep band gehad het wat dikwels in my gedagtes opduik. Gedagtes vlietend, maar kosbaar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan is daar die talle mense wat ek deur die werk ontmoet het, wat net eendag nie meer daar was nie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dierbare mense wat vir my wenke gestuur het of wie se lewe op die een of ander manier met myne verweef geraak het. Mense soos Rufus Botha, Elsabe de Jager, Jan van der Merwe, oom Junior Bezuidenhout en nou onlangs Marie-Louise Nel . . . So baie ander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2019n Vriend van my het onlangs verjaar, en Facebook stuur toe vir my \u2019n foto uit sy Facebook-album.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dit neem my ver terug. Na \u2019n reis-storie wat ek geskryf het. \u2019n Paar van ons het saam met wyle Johan Hattingh van die SUT, bekend vir sy liefde en passie vir toerisme en geskiedenis van Bloemfontein en die Vrystaat, deur die stad se strate in sy spoggerige limousine getoer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ons klomp het soos wafferse miljoen\u00ears agter in di\u00e9 motor gesit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By die Vrouemonument het Johan van sy rykdom kennis met ons gedeel en daarna tot ons vermaak \u2019n bottel vonkelwyn met \u2019n lang mes laat oopskiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Met een foto het my gedagtes teruggegaan na daardie middag. Na die lang tyd waarin my en Johan se paaie dikwels gekruis het, totdat Covid-19 hom ontydig weggeneem het.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daar is kosbare kollegas wat ons deur die jare ontval het. Mense soos wyle Nols Nieman, met sy aftrede \u2019n assistent-redakteur by Volksblad<\/i>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kort voor my aanstelling by Volksblad<\/i><\/span>meer as twee dekades gelede was daar \u2019n foto van hom en die hoofredaksie in die koerant. Op di\u00e9 foto het Nols vir my baie kwaai gelyk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hoe verkeerd was ek nie. Hy was \u2019n passievolle mens \u2013 met \u2019n groot omgeehart vir liefdadigheid en passievol oor geskiedenis en nuus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nols het my ingeboender in sy ywer om te berig oor liefdadigheid \u2013 my selfs \u2019n paar gesellighede laat re\u00ebl om geld vir welsyn te help insamel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nog baie ander kosbare kollegas \u2013 soos Elma Maritz, Andr\u00e9 Botha met sy mooi radiostem en die kunssinnige Marlene de Beer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ek eer almal wat oor my pad gekom het en my \u2019n ryker mens gemaak het. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Elkeen wat iewers \u2019n blywende storie in my lewe en di\u00e9 van ander geskryf het.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Die onkruid verberg byna die 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