The Class of ’77 had a wee gathering at Zena’s place in Feb 2020. The lies we told!! ‘You’re looking younger’n evah DAHling!’ Yeah, right!

Actually, none of that. A lot of truth was spoken. Which led to a lot of laughter.

Zena laid on a wonderful spread and we sat around a colourful table on her Sandton patio.

Schoeman smuggled in some gin n meths in an expensive bottle; Zena provided wine and buckets she said were gin glasses – old soaks have all sorts of tricks! Brauer provided beer; I just drank.

The afternoon whizzed past and all too soon we had to shuffle off to take our other meds.

We should do this every forty three years.

~~~oo0oo~~~

Is a gathering of presbyopes a parliament of presbyopes? I think we were more a chuckle of presbyopes. While searching I did find these: an unhappiness of husbands . . a tedium of golfers . . and – not being one – I made up a yawn of grandparents.

~~~oo0oo~~~

PS: Soon after this came lockdown and our little group of six turned into a wonderfully convivial whatsapp cartel, sharing advice, support and look sharp! in equal measure.

~~~oo0oo~~~

The Origin Story:

From: Pete S
Sent: Wednesday, 20 November 2019
To: Zena Jacobson;
Subject: Jacqui

Hi Zeens

I think that’s Jacqui’s correct surname. She was ___ way back in Harrismith in 1972!! She’s having what sounds like an adaptation problem with new multifocals. Thanks so much for agreeing to check her over. Cheers – Pete

PS: I will definitely commit to making a trip behind the boerewors curtain. I have abandoned the kids a couple of times this year and the house didn’t burn down, so I think I must keep on doing it more and more.

Zena: Can’t think of anything nicer than an afternoon with old friends. They are so few and far between these days.

Pete S: Thanks again. Brauer thinks a get-together is “a good eye dear”

On Thursday 21 November 2019, Zena Jacobson wrote: Great. Tell me when you want to cross the boerewors curtain and I will arrange a get together.

Pete S: In the new year. We need to get Terry into the loop. She’s Brauer’s memory glands.

Zena Jacobson wrote: Yes. I’ll set up a WhatsApp group for us, and we can chat together.

Pete S: Excellent. Brauer can sponsor the event. He must be flush with cash as he has just revamped his practice with bells and whistles and open windows, no vertical blinds.

..

And lo! It came to pass.

How fortuitous, as we formed a lovely support group through lockdown.

..

As a check on my powers of prediction: My house did not burn down, but you will remember I was distracted for a while in Zena’s garden on an over-long phone call: Jessie had fallen down after trying to drink as much alcohol as her more experienced friend. Did she inherit my genes or summing, dammit?!

Terry saved the situation with a sensible suggestion later that night when we were back in the gramadoelas: Send her to hospital.

Alcohol poisoning. They put her on a drip.

* sigh * If only she’d inherited my fine singing voice instead.