A Life Worth Living

I wrote this poem to celebrate my mom’s 90th birthday. Words seem inadequate. Photos do too. They can only attempt to illustrate the life of this incredible woman, mother and pilot.

We love you Yvonne

Ingrid, Karen, Debbie, Chantal, Tarryn & Abby

No normal picnic would suffice

You needed to swim out beyond

Into the mesmerizing embrace 

Of the Sunderland flying-boat drifting in silence upon the waters

Captivated by her beauty and elegance

Spellbound you made the decision

With feet firmly planted on the ground

You promised the skies would be yours

And so it was

With nerves of steel

Courage in abundance and intense spirit of adventure

Your destiny was hailed

The journey was never tranquil

Obstacles flew in faster than the aircraft 

Segregation, prejudice, judgement, criticism

Undeserved and wrong

The lasting anguish took its toll many a time

Hunger, heartbreak, broken back

Shattered knee, marriage in ruins, illness and loss

Financial security forever elusive

Tiger Moths, biplanes, Cherokees and Barons

A deep long-lasting love affair

Red shorts exposing gorgeous legs

Barefoot and born free

Drinking with the boys albeit but fruit juice

Elbows up

Holding your own

Your strength of spirit captivating all

Never the easy way

Aerobatics in secret

Breaking rules and records

Always winning

Throughout the passage of time

You took to the skies

You lived life to the full

Treasuring the gems along the way

For not only a pilot, a mother, a role-model supreme

But a farmer too

Ruimzicht farm

A place of mangoes, mud huts and Modjadji the Rain Queen

Home was full of love and care and fun

The language, that of aviation terminology

VA’s, full throttle, nosedive, spin and stall

We had it all

Months of toil

Dedication and reliving the past

Two books written

Of aprons, kitchens and other such stuff

The perfectionist you are

A brilliant career

Setting the stage for generations to come

Fighting the fight till the end

High moral standards

Never to suffer fools lightly

Taking on battles

Because it’s the right thing to do

Always sharing your home with Dean, Nat and Andy

Their songs bringing joy and dance

Making light of washing dishes and cooking meals

Your love of music continues

Your heart is huge and kind

Happiest when with your girls

Daughters, granddaughters

And then there’s Abby

Surrounded by simple pleasures

Licking peanut butter by the spoonful

Vanilla ice cream and hot chocolate sauce

Sardines, condensed milk and scrabble

Finding homes for everything

Making something out of nothing at all

Our simple beautiful tent dresses

We never wanted for anything

Determination your middle name

Mischief and curiosity your prompts

With the bluest of eyes

You taught us to not only see life but to live life

Always taking the road less traveled

Seeking solace

Your love of maps 

Bringing us to Cape Columbine

Weekends camping in Kruger

Kombi, coffee, tin mugs and elephants

Sunsets and the haunting cries of the Fish Eagle

You taught us to listen

Your endless courage

The desire to learn more 

On levels other than academic

Have presented you a life in motion

To travel is in your blood

Your life-force

A life in the Congo

Danger, beauty, exhilaration and fleeing

Botswana had you in its grip

Chasing elephants from the air

Rhodesia spraying Tsetse flies at low levels

In nothing more than winged fabric

Your inquisitive mind and thirst for knowledge

Led you to hitch-hike

With daughters in tow

Norway’s Oslo to the stark Nordkapp

The mighty cliff looking out upon the world

Rising above the Arctic Ocean

Witnessing the Midnight Sun

Surreal in her magnificence

Glaciers, fjords, icebergs and Laplanders

You showed us all

And when it was time to leave

We bid farewell and began the long walk home

London, Belgium

Exploring, living, devouring mussels and beer

Myanmar and China too

Embracing Shwedagon Pagoda, the Great Wall and the temples of Angkor 

“The sky is not the limit, there is always outer space”

Your love of life evident

As you danced Nia on the beach

And produced bread puddings

“Blikskottel” you so love

Your disdain of incorrect English grammar

Insistent and never-ending and so awfully correct

Despite finding the oldest pyjamas to wear

Supporting your family in every way

Through troubled times and more

Looking to the bright side with eyes that sparkle

Questioning and conquering

Milestones joyously celebrated

When fifty, a motorbike license and becoming Grandma

The Gobi Desert in Xinjiang embraced you 

For on a camel you rode at eighty

Celebrating the skies once more in the Extra 300

At eighty-six your spirit took you on high through spins and loops

At eighty-eight

Myanmar enveloped you in love and respect

Now at the beautiful age of ninety

Surrounded by love

We wish you health, peace and happiness

And a long life worth living