today would have been ronnie's 45th birthday, if he had not died 6 years ago.
that year his birthday was on a sunday. he insisted that morning that we go cycling together, francois, myself and he. he took us on a long and difficult route, and i really suffered. i didn't enjoy it much, but he did.
when we came home, he insisted we invite a bunch of people over for a braai (bbq) later that afternoon. i was annoyed, as we were not planning on having a big do, just his and my parents over in the evening for coffee. i thought we would do something big for his 40th birthday the next year. i had not planned anything, and he didn't leave me much time to buy all the food, and prepare everything. he often expected me to entertain crowds at almost no notice, he was very spontaneous like that. while i was out shopping, he proceeded to invite almost everybody he knew. our parents, our siblings and a group of our friends. it was quite a big turnout for such short notice, and people had a good time that sunday evening.
funny how things happen that way. for most of those people, it was the last time they ever saw him. he died 5 days later, in a plane crash. so many people expressed later how they appreciated the memories of that day, his 39th birthday.
i have to say that i am grateful for the 16 years we spent together, more better than worse. he had so much more to give, so much potential still. but few people could have packed so much living in 39 years as he had, and i was fortunate to have shared that living with him. he is still missed, by me, by francois, by his parents and mine, and by his brother and sister, and many of his friends. it was good to have known him.
love, jacki
jacki janse van rensburg - SCRAPPIN TIMES
