To my grandma with LOVE - Katherine Harris

This is a story about a woman named Katherine Harris; or as she always use to say its "Katherine with a K". She was my grandmother who was born on the 26th September 1924 and died on the 7th June 2003.

Its been almost 11years since her passing but let me tell you there isnt one day that goes by; where I dont think about her or at least have a memory flash back and either have a good laugh :-) or cry :-(... She was really the good; the bad & the ugly all in one.

She was a very strict woman, Its her way or no way at all you know how old folks were and still are today!

But I wonder what I will be like in my old age? :-)

She taught us how to say our prayers every night; we would pray the Our Father, Gentle Jesus and even the prayers you would say before eating we would say before we slept, and also how to wash up the dishes in the following order: "first the glasses; then the plates and the spoons must be washed last". Now Im teaching my daughter how to do it the same way I was taught. Laugh Out Loud! Never thought I would be teaching my child that same exact way. But at the time when you are being taught; No do it this way then as a child, teenager you would be like, But why must it be done that way ma? Always trying to be clever!

And she taught me how to tell time and even how to use a dictionary she would've been a good teacher if she had to be one. She was married; had 6 daughters. And a whole lot of grandkids because her sister's grandkids also considered her their granny since their own passed away. But I really grew to love that ouma (granny) of mine. When I was younger I always use to imagine what would happen if she were to die one day because she was a really; really difficult person. At times while growing up I thought she never liked me because she would always be shouting for something.

If you were to make her chips and u come with chips that are not brown she would curse you out. "I dont want that f..... white chips" she was very particular. And if you dont do your house chores boy get ready for an embarrasing moment. Like one day I went to madressa (muslim school after normal school) and I didnt do my house work; Guess what she came up to the madressa because it wasnt very far from the house and their I was thinking man; I didnt do anything today when suddenly I hear my grannies croaky old voice coming on swearing... I jumped up from where I was and ran out to where she was and headed straight home cos I actually left a bit earlier at home so there wasnt many kids at the madressa so I wasnt embarassed too much :-) phew wiping the sweat from my head.

Although she was so strict and sometimes ugly she really loved us. Every month she would go withdraw her pension money and we would always be told to come with and she would buy us something nice well not always but she had her moments. I think she missed out in her kids growing up and she gave us more of herself than what she gave to her own kids because there was a time when she lost her mind. She wasnt doing well and her kids became wellfare kids and her mum raised her kids. My grandma also raised me. Well she would buy us jewellery and we would play games like monopoly; rollett; ludu it was really great fun sometimes. She wasnt much of a cook but she made the best red cakes in the world.

She was someone who you could lay on the bed with and say absolutely nothing to and yet when you would depart you would feel so happy.

I use to have a routine where I would visit her every night; sometimes take her a plate of food.

My boyfriend who is now my husband use to rub her feet if they were sore; or we would change her bedding for her.

She use to have a thing that she does when she is laying in the bed she would tap her foot and it always use to irritate me when she did it but guess what I am doing the same thing now and my husband always teases me but its something that I cant stop it happens so naturally; without even thinking about it. So I guess that is my inheritance from her. To me the most amazing part is how I can think of her every single day and how we can always have these memory flash backs of the good; the bad the ugly & the funny.

My grandmother was the best; she would play games with us every.Sunday; games like snakes & ladders; ludu & she even bought us a Rollette game. Wow she was the best I hope & pray to one day have the priviledge of spoiling my own grandkids.

She was sick for one week... but the best of my last memories before she died was when she told me "Dont worry Im gonna take care of you and the baby" because I was highly pregnant when she died. She died a month and a day before my daughter was born. Im sure she was gonna spoil her as she did with most of her great-grandkids they called her Big ma.

A sweet and bitter old girl. Rest in peace Ouma Meide love you forever and ever........

Please Love and appreciate anybody who is close to your heart whether it be your parents; grandparents; siblings; husband or wife and even your kids because every moment is precious and time waits for nobody and we cant turn back the hands of time