Glamorous Pink!

Return

It’s Monday Morning.  There’s no better way to begin the week than to sit oneself down next to a freshly brewed ‘cuppa’ with in front a blank screen that states: “It’s time to commence blogging again.”

The weekend was hectic, but thanks to a group of well-devoted organisers, our plans fell smoothly into place. It all started off with three themes in mind: ‘Pink’, ‘Cupcakes’ and ‘Sex and the City’.  The very items our ‘bride-to-be’ is fanatical about.  The location we chose had to be metropolitan, sexy, bustling...even oozing an air of calmness.  New York was a city a tad too far.  It therefore had to be Paris; equally idyllic – retrospectively, a place just ‘round the corner’!

The beginning

On the Friday afternoon, I left the house, with a suitcase in my hand, boarded a plane from Liverpool to Brussels, and hid in a friend’s apartment for the night.  At 6.30am, the very next day, we made our way to join the others on the platform of Brussels-South.  Sam’s Cafe was the area in which we were going to meet and greet our ‘bachelorette’ of the weekend.

Constantly clock-watching, I began to panic because our party-girl kept us waiting much longer than originally anticipated.  I kept wondering: “Are we going to make the Thalys to Paris on time?”  What felt like hours, but was only minutes later - I noticed her; appear from afar.  She was wearing a knee-high denim skirt which was over-hung by a white ribbed vest-top and loosely accessorised with a cream-coloured scarf.  It was, all-in-all, a plain but rather elegant ensemble that corresponded to the manner in which she was approaching.  As soon as she saw one of us wave, she stuck her neck out, trying to do a headcount.  From the minute she was a distant of three arm-lengths away, I detected the shock and excitement on her face: “Ters, You have made it!”  The words she exclaimed made me choke on my breath with emotion. 

Weeks of anticipation, days of extreme worry and unrest, the hours and minutes that I had been counting down to; were now, finally, positioned in front of me!  The intensity was overwhelming; my build-up of nerves had to be released.  All the emotions that I had *this far* held within, were beginning to melt to the surface.  And even though I was meant to surprise her; I ended up astounding myself.  Over-run by a wealth of affection, my spontaneity took over and expressed itself with floods of tears – the saltiness of the liquid was nearly dissolving the chubbiness on my cheeks… I could hardly blurt out a word and sobbed: “I am so happy to see you!” 

Her attributes

Her immediate reaction was to take me in her arms.  They were as comforting as ever!  All of a sudden, completely unexpected (like every single one of them tears) a list came streaming out from nowhere, neatly organising the attributes that make her so unique and valuable to me!

I look up to her strong and independent streak - she has a hunger to help worthy others.  Her stubborn, hard-working and diligent efforts are motivational factors that enhance the determination within me.  I adore her because she is always on the ball.  I’m not just referring to ‘current affairs’, ‘the headlines in the media’ – she takes a priceless interest in every single member of our family and asks questions – merely out of concern – that are sincere and meaningful.  It makes me realise that many of us close-knit siblings take life, in unison, quite often for granted.  Her nurturing instinct has turned her into a beautiful, sensible mother.  The other functions she fulfils in society (as an eager volunteer, a passionate columnist, a customary presenter…) are coequally demonstrating the quintessence of her being!         

A feeling through and through

As eldest of eleven siblings, I carry a responsibility that often sends me on edge.  There are a lot of things that I can’t spontaneously discuss with the younger members of my family – with Heidi everything differs.  She is the one who encourages me to talk about the insecurities of the heart; the one that helps me cope with the bullies in society.  She is the single motivator that guides me in finding a peaceful balance between the career and family oriented mind (even when it is her dream to appear as an interviewee on Oprah Winfrey’s chair)!       

Heidi, it would be an insult to call you my favourite cousin when I consider you my older sister through and through!  “You are a sophisticated blonde, with a vivaciousness that is out of this world, which shines most beautifully and calmly through next to a touch of glamorous pink!”

And just because I couldn’t get it over my lips at the point of our departure: “Heidi, ik zie u OOK graag!”