2 February 02 February 10 Today's an important day. 20 years ago we parked on the side of the road near Victor Verster prison, waiting for Mandela to drive past. Most people were waiting on the Paarl road, but someone suggested he was coming out through the Wemmershoek Road, so we drove there and waited. And then there they were, the black cars wooshing by. Luke saw Walter Sisulu in the first one. Then Madiba drove past, and we shouted and waved and screamed and jumped up and down. James was just 16 months old, and he and Pete stood on the car bonnet yelling. It was so exciting. There was only one other car near us, also going crazy. When they'd passed we jumped in the car and followed the cavalcade, but as they got nearer to Cape Town, and people saw the news on the TV, they rushed into the road, singing and cheering, and we lost the cavalcade. Luke had to go home to do evensong - it was a Sunday night. And he was like a well cared for motorcar. Never missed a service. Afterwards when Madiba said on TV how surprised he'd been to see so many cheering white people, we hoped it had been our little family he noticed, the first ordinary people on the road as he left prison. And 16 years ago Philip was born. Luke was fantastic to me during his delivery. The first two, he was crap. Pete he read Crime and Punishment and panicked. James he was panicking - but then James' birth was horrible. And I got so irritable when I was in labour, everything he did drove me crazy. So with Pip I told him beforehand what I needed him to do. And he was wonderful, whispering in my ear that I was doing well, encouraging me and full of affection. I was so grateful to him that I called the baby Philip (which Luke chose) John (after Luke's dad) Luke. I think Mandela's release from prison was the highlight of Luke's life. It's miraculous that we were so close by. Of course, our friends Chris and Jacqui got an autographed signature that very day, as Chris was Archbishop Tutu's chaplain, and Madiba stayed the night at Bishopscourt. But this was ALMOST as good... And here we are twenty years on. Goodness me, how old age does creep up on one, like the Angel Gabriel sidling up to the Blessed Virgin.

Gill on 04 February 10
Wow this must have been SUCH A MOVING EXPERIENCE. I cried just reading about it here.

Helen the Blogger on 03 February 10
Well yes, Lolly, I thought you had realised by now that the Blogscoffers and Blogmockers get crushed... Be more careful next time...

Lolly on 02 February 10
I wrote the previous comment in response to your blog, which a few hours ago was empty other than for the heading. Pity I read it again, because I have realised that the Bad Godmother has forgotten Philip's birthday again.

Lolly on 02 February 10
Profound

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