So what really happened was...

So here is the real story of all the drama last week.

Three of us boys had arranged to meet for a night downhill longboard skating session. For those who don’t know, it just works better at night as you can see cars when they are far away and take evasive action in good time. Then again, it is just more thrilling by the light of a full moon!

We were to meet at 20h30 but I found myself taking my time and watching the opening scenes of some old movie with the family. I had no doubt the boys would wait for me. Until I heard a gunshot, followed by two more. Then I started to move!

It turned out Roger**, one of the boys and a neighbour, had set off earlier at the right time and surprised three chaps in the bushes at the top of the street. One pulled out a gun, pointed it in Roger’s** face, and pulled the trigger. And missed! They tangled and Roger** found himself pinned to the ground and fielding a swinging boot to the face before another neighbour ran into the road. Same chap pointed his gun in George’s** face, pulled the trigger, and missed! From what I gather, gangster gunslinger found it strange too, pointed the gun to his side, pulled the trigger, and shot his comrade. Who died right there on the pavement.

With no remorse whatsoever, the two remaining villains took off down the street with Roger** and George** in hot pursuit.When Roger's** wife joined the chase, both neighbours gave it up and left it to the professionals.

Due to a number of factors, armed response was on the scene within 60 seconds. And in such numbers it was mind blowing. There must have been upwards of 20 armed persons running the street. They found the baddies about 2km away, and it turns out they were wanted for all sorts of naughty things all along the coast. Score one for the good guys! The SAPS, and all of our local response companies were awesome! Our little community rallied around in minutes making sure all were comforted and protected. In a situation like this, it was great to know everyone instead of having to use it as our opportunity to introduce ourselves.

But it was close, very close to an unmitigated disaster. Had the gun toting idiot not been trying to shoot gangsta movie style, it would have been a tragedy for more than just baddie number three.

On the good side, a celebration braai was held this weekend, with upwards of 50 neighbours in attendance. We celebrated our lives, our little community, and our rejection of all things criminal.

We now even have a Facebook Group dedicated to our street. Communication has never been easier!

I keep wondering how I would have reacted because it could have been me first to the top of the street. And I keep coming back to the same answer; it went as well as it could have done for a bad situation, my reaction may well have made it all worse! Either way I firmly believe God was watching over us all…

** names changed to protect the innocent

 

Laughing, skating, and dads

My street is a funny place. A place where laughs are shared with careless abandon, skateboards provide meaningful transport, and wine is drunk in groups at the side of the road! A strange and unusual place to live!

According to my calculations, our small stretch of road comprises 24 houses in which 27 children lay their heads at night. And there is at least one more on the way! This incredible piece of arithmetic genius excludes all of the bigger kids, the ones with real leather wallets and the coolest toys. To say there is plenty of action on our street would be putting things mildly. Always somebody to play with and some or other set of wheels to be ridden, kids paradise!

Friday night saw 5 dads on skateboards and multitudes of children enjoying the pleasures of well greased ball bearings on axels. Dads are fully involved in the play, including special moves like lie on the road as fast as possible from coasting on board, and lets test how hot these chillies really are! Luckily for the dads, cold beer provides welcome relief from our sillier antics and refreshes far better than Oros. Last night our impromptu gathering ended at the half pipe at my house. Strangely, the only injury being one big kid with a few new dents in his ankle.

I like the fact that as dads, we are involved in the play with our children. I like that they can see us trying to push ourselves, and having fun with each other. Most of our relationships with our children are serious and it is good to be able to get down to their level and just enjoy time spent doing silly things.

Three of the children belong to a new neighbour who just moved in. When he walked away from my house with three skateboards under his arms, only one of which was his sons, I knew he would be fitting right in!

Neighbours and Friends

What a weekend. A medley of social interaction with friends and neighbours that was staggering in its fun quotient!

It all started off with drinks at a neighbour’s house. Drinks quickly became an impromptu dinner which was lovely in that it was good time shared. I have to wonder how many people can walk down their street and be surrounded by friends.

Saturday involved a walk up a mountain as part of a church youth group meeting. Presumably I was there in order to oversee a bunch of impressionable youngsters and was greeted instead to a rather large family event. The youngsters had all brought their parents and siblings. It was a wonderful morning of shared joy in the beauty of nature and the exertion of a good hard walk. My five year old did me proud and managed to complete the three hour expedition on his own albeit at his pace!

Later that evening another neighbour dropped in to drop off some stuff she had borrowed. Soon the rest of her family had been invited and we all sat down to share dinner and some of that red liquid stuff, rather famous in the Cape. Again, I had to wonder about our neighbourhood, does this happen to anyone else?

Sunday saw an old work college over to lunch. What a joy to hear and see her confidence and happiness in life again. The spark of life within completely renewed! And then dinner saw some more old friends and their family arrive and another thoroughly entertaining meal shared.

My wife and I are inordinately blessed with amazing friendships. Sometimes it takes a bit of effort to rekindle the connections but all of that effort is infinitely rewarded within the warm glow of sharing time together!

Oh yes, and friendship goes very well with food!