Grantleigh College!
I had been asked to speak at the Valedictory Service by Janet McGrath (nee Maiden). She knew me from way back in my past, when I was at Durban University.
“ I was a couple of years younger than you. I used to look after you in sheer envy and admiration as you waved hello from your red scooter,” she said.

I knew nothing of Grantleigh College so I ‘Googled’ them. ‘Oh, great,’ I thought, ‘I will be going back to Kwazulu Natal.’
Grantleigh is situated just north of Richards Bay/Empangeni on the Kwazulu-Natal North Coast. The school was founded in 1997 and in just 20 years has grown into a thriving school community of around 750 learners from Grade RRR to Grade 12.

Gavin picked me up!
That sounds far more ‘saucy’ than what Gavin really did, but I love a bit of sauce. Gavin drove all the way from just north of Richards Bay to Durban airport to fetch me. He came towards me as I was standing, scanning the crowd for someone with a sign saying: Gaynor Young.
“Hi, Gaynor! I hope you haven’t been waiting long?” asked this man with eyes that grinned at you as if we were already friends. I liked him instantly.

We climbed into the Grantleigh College combi and set off on our two hour journey.
“I hope you don’t mind, Gavin, but I am going to go through my speech. I am actually delivering a different speech to the one I normally give at prize givings. As a result, I am petrified!”
“You do that. We have two hours to get rid of those nerves,” said Gavin with a smile.

This speech was about my return to The State Theatre after my fall from the stage 25 years earlier. The State Theatre had come to represent enormous loss to me. Going back was a massive undertaking which ultimately resulted in complete liberation. I was going to tell the students of the release this act had bought me. I am no longer able to memorise lines. Before my fall, I would have been able to write a brilliant speech and deliver it, from memory, word for brilliant word. Nowadays I just had to know what I was speaking about and hope that inspiration hit at the very moment it was needed!

We sped northwards towards Grantleigh.

It was splendid meeting Jan again. I had been so frightened that I wouldn’t remember her. On seeing her smiling face, memory tapped at my unconscious and she struck an old familiar chord deep within. She led me to her office and I gratefully sat there, poring over my speech while she went to confirm that all was ready. Janet had belonged to a Christian Youth Group and so when she came back, we said a prayer together. Then it was a case of all systems go and together with the Head, Jan and the rest of the staff, we proceeded into assembly. The students hadn’t been told that I was coming so I met many curious stares as I walked past them and onto the stage.

I approached the podium after the Head had finished addressing the school.
“I feel tremendously honoured to have been asked to speak to all of you today,” I began, “I hope that in the years to come, you will look back on my speech and will say: Ahhhh, that’s what Gaynor was speaking about!”
There was gentle laughter at this and I was away.

My message focused on two things.
Be willing to embrace change if your circumstances dictate that this is necessary.
I dreamed of becoming an actress and that dream came to fruition. I had my fall and the world came crashing down around me. Years later, I discovered another talent. I could write. I published my book My Plunge to Fame in 2000. Since then I have become a very successful blogger. When one door closes, a window is always open somewhere else. Be prepared to look for it. It may be well hidden but it is always there.
Face your demons! For 25 years after my accident, I carried around a fear of The State Theatre and everything it represented to me. I went back and bearded that demon in it’s den. Only to discover there was nothing there to fight! It was merely a beautiful stage in a big theatre. I love stages and theatres had always been ‘home’ to me. For twenty-five years I carried this needless boulder around my neck. It often ricocheted off things causing me unnecessary bruises and pain. When you have problems, deal with them immediately. When you confront your problems, you often discover that they were never as huge or insurmountable as originally anticipated. I finished my speech and the students and their parents got to their feet applauding.

My speech was followed by the Head Girl and Head Boy’s speeches. How did the Head Girl, Tessa Hubble, manage to be so wise and foreword thinking? I know that I wasn’t like that at the age of 17! The Head Boy, Philasande Maxase, took a more comedic turn at getting his point across.
He said: “I want to show you the various dances that I carried with me from Grade 8 through to grade 12. He called up his friend with a laughing face, Mpilo Khoza and said: “Mpilo will show you the various dances that we students have done throughout high school.”
Mpilo’s dances ranged from the slightly nervous, doing things correctly in grade 8 to the super cool in control dance of the grade 12s. They were hilarious, spot on and beautifully danced. Then Philasande pulled out a wipe-board and wrote:
3+1= 4
7+3=10
5+2=7
6+2=14
No, that’s wrong. He has got the sum wrong, I thought. Philasande turned to all of us and said:
“I have written four sums up here. Three are correct and one is wrong. And yet that is the only one you are all concerned with. The one that is incorrect! I am saying we must not always look at the negatives in life. We must rather look at the positives!

After the ceremony, I was speaking to the students about their plans for next year.
“I’m going to Stellenbosch to study accountancy.”
“I’m off to Pretoria University to study engineering.”
I think back to my leaving school. “I’m going to Durban University to study drama!”
I duly entered the acting profession. Then my catastrophe and my life changed drastically. Things  don’t always go according to plan. This is what makes life both frustrating and exhilarating. What is important is that we have a choice about how we accept the cards that we are dealt. I so admire people who on being punched in the stomach by life, get their breath back and come back fighting. They refuse to huddle in bed bemoaning their fate. Instead they take what else is on offer from this smorgasbord of life.

I had noticed a boy that returned to the stage about five times to receive various awards. ‘His parents must be so proud of him,’ I thought. After the ceremony, he sought me out. He had tears in his eyes.
“You have no idea what your speech meant to me,” he blurted out. “Your determination is incredible. It just showed me that no matter where life leads us, there is so much to living. Thank you.”
That boy will remain in my memory with his mop of dark brown hair, rosy cheeks and tear filled eyes that understood.

All the matrics stood together, each holding a red helium filled balloon. As one, they released them and silently stood watching their balloons ascend into the air as a red flock. Different currents caught the balloons and caused them to separate into groups of three or four. Then these would split, once again being nudged by a different breath of air. I contemplated life as I watched these balloons take flight. Occasionally it seemed as if a single courageous balloon would set off on it’s own path, preferring to tackle the unknown independently.

Go well, class of 2017, go well!!!

The post Up, Up & Away! appeared first on 'ear 'ear! by Gaynor Young.

Recently I have been to stay with my cousin, Judith Saulez and family in Durban. It was great to be able to spend some quality time with them. Their three daughters go to Durban Girls College. When I was twelve I went there for two years. I was a weekly boarder and I remember those times of a laughter filled schoolgirl with a smile. Judith had mentioned to the Headmaster that I would be staying with her for a few days. His response was immediate: “Do you think that Gaynor would come and say a few words to the school in assembly? She can speak for fifteen minutes as long as it has a spiritual feel to it. She can take the Chaplin’s place. It would be a wonderful way to start the children’s day.”
The night beforehand I had gone over which points I should speak on with Judith. Let me tell you, that squeezing my one hour speech into a mere fifteen minutes, one has to be ruthless in what one cuts out.
I was nervous. I was incredibly nervous. Bad enough speaking to three hundred adults at a conference. Even more daunting is speaking to seven hundred school girls. They can be incredibly critical and can sense when you are trying to pull the wool over their eyes.
The school led in to assembly. I followed the Headmaster and staff onto the stage. How strange and topsy-turvy like to be sitting there. I used to be sitting where all those dark green clad, fresh faced girls now gazed up at me with interest. After singing the morning hymn, we had a reading and a prayer. Then the Headmaster, Thomas Hagepihl (Mr H!) introduced me and I took my place behind the beautiful antique lectern. I thought back to my days of watching our Headmistress, Ms Christison, standing so beautifully poised behind this lectern. ‘No,’ I admonished myself, ‘no thinking of Chrissie now. You have a speech to do. Get started!’

“Hi” there, everyone! It is really great for me to be back here. Yes, I used to be a College girl, just like you…” I began my speech. I spoke well! (Modest, aren’t I?) I did all the points that I had mentioned with Judith. Judith and I had decided that it would be great for me to finish with my story of the rainbow. Having only 40% eyesight my vision is limited and as a result I am unable to drive. Very frustrating! My perception of this limitation was changed when I saw this magnificent rainbow. Judith knew I was just about finished and was getting ready to clap when I suddenly pointed to my ears and said: “Now, my Cochlear Implants!”
‘Oh no, Gaynor, you haven’t got time!’ Judith thought.
As if hearing her, I turned to the Head and teachers onstage with me and said: “I’m sorry, I won’t be much longer…” I told the girls of the wonder of my Cochlear Implants. I told them of all the things that I was previously deaf to but which I am now able to hear – the chirping and twittering of birds, young children’s voices, TV, music, films. After my accident, I used to lie in bed and pray: “Please Lord, heal me of my deafness. Make me hear again.” The Lord hasn’t healed me of my deafness. When I take my CI’s off I am as deaf as 43 doornails. But he has made me hear again! And I am so incredibly grateful for that.
I finished my speech by saying: “I am unbelievably fortunate in that I love life. I love it because of it’s ups and downs. I am also incredibly blessed in that I can hear the enchanting chirping of the birds and I can see the unearthly beauty of something like a rainbow.”
The applause went on and on. I looked down at those smiling faces, clapping madly and sitting amongst those applauding girls I could see a twelve year old Gaynor smiling back at me.

Judith then took me around the school. I remembered it fairly clearly but there had also been many changes. I peeped into one classroom which was this mass of computers. They weren’t there in my day! We went down to College House, my boarding establishment. I hadn’t been in that building since I was thirteen years old. I recognised our old prep room, our dining hall. And then we walked upstairs and my feet took me to my old dormitory. I shared a cubicle with Marian Hammond! Glory, the memories came flooding in…..
Walking around the school, I was frequently congratulated by teachers and schoolgirls alike on my speech. Then we were stopped by this woman who introduced herself as Erin. Apparently she was the Zulu teacher and also the school’s Senior Primary Counsellor. What she said took my breath away.
“I heard you speak when I was sixteen. I was a wreck at the time because in a weeks time I was going in for brain surgery. I listened to you and all my fears fell away. You gave me such courage and hope. Thank you, Gaynor!”
Later Judith received this e-mail from her:

Dear Judith,

I just want to thank you for creating the opportunity for me to see one of my greatest inspirations again. She is an incredible woman who in my eyes is an angel in human form.

Have a wonderful day,
Erin

I burst into tears. Yes, I am an “inspiration” to people.     I am aware of that. But there is a difference between knowing you are an inspiration and actually meeting a person and hearing first hand how your life has impacted on someone else’s and made a difference. I battle with why God allowed my accident to happen. That day at Durban Girls College I was able to look at my accident in a new light.
I was able to see why my Lord had allowed me to live!

The post Defining Moments! appeared first on 'ear 'ear! by Gaynor Young.

I came through the airport doors to see a man with a sign saying: GAYNOR YOUNG. I introduced myself and we were off. I hadn’t been in Johannesburg for about two years. What struck me was how BIG it seemed. George is smaller and more intimate. And those mountains are a definite draw card! Although the people in Jo’burg are some of the friendliest in the world, I am very happy now living in George!
We arrived at my hotel at 8.45pm and I was given a key to my bungalow. I shut the door, put my case down, took off my coat and breathed a huge sigh. I was exhausted. Before collapsing on my bed and going through my speech, there was something more important – dinner! I was the only one in the dining room. The other guests had all been taken out. So I sat reading my book, eating Spring Rolls and drinking a beer. Yes, incredibly healthy, I know, but a very pleasant way to wind down!
The next morning I met the lady in charge of the event. They were running late. I would be speaking at 9.00 a.m. No problem!
“Lord”, I prayed, “I’m quite nervous. I haven’t spoken for a while and…and…oohhh, don’t let me make a fool of myself! Help me to remember what to say. I want to give a good speech because…well, I…um…like to give good speeches! And Lord, let me glorify You in my speech. So, Lord, well…over to You!”
We stood at the back of the hall and waited for the man on the podium to finish what he was presenting and introduce me. He was speaking very fast. Obviously too fast for my hearing. I couldn’t hear a word he was saying. I remarked very sotto voce to the lady next to me: “Glory, my hearing is bad. I can’t hear a word he is saying. He might as well be speaking in another language!”
“He is,” she answered, “he’s speaking in Spanish.”
“Spanish!“ Oh, oh, I see…” I didn’t see at all!
I looked at the audience. Blow me down, if they didn’t all appear to be Spanish. Not a blonde or red head amongst them! Before I could say anything the audience clapped and I was pushed forward. “Your turn!”
Flip! I faced the audience. The obviously Spanish audience stared back in a friendly manner. Ohhhh, double flip! I considered beginning my speech with: “Buonos Dias!” but as this was the only Spanish I knew, I cast that thought aside. What a battle that speech proved to be! The majority of the audience wore headphones while a person interpreted everything I said into Spanish. Points at which I normally got a response, a smile or a laugh, this time…zilch! I tell a story about my having dinner with another deaf man and usually the audience are crying they are laughing so much. This time…just vague smiles! I thought to myself: Keep going! Don’t lose your thread! Don’t be put off! This audience are just…just reacting differently, that’s all!
I finished with an inner sigh of relief. I sat at a table in the shade of the verandah, took several deep, calming breaths and drank a Coke. You should be drinking a large gin and tonic after what you have just been through, I thought. I held off on the G and T. After all, it was only 10.45!
I was reflecting on how humour and wit are very difficult to successfully transcend language barriers when I heard: “Excuse me!” I looked up to see a man addressing me, “I have just listened to your speech. I was the sound operator.” I smiled at him. “Just recently I have undergone a pretty traumatic experience. Your courage and determination have given me a different perspective on my life. What you said about your faith really struck home. Thanks so much, this morning has been life changing!”
My heart gave a sigh. “Hey, good one, Lord!” I said silently.
Two Spaniards then came up to me and complemented me on my performance and I thought to myself: Don’t always rush in and judge, Gaynor. This audience was just…different, that’s all. They had understood the message I was trying to get across.
As awful as it sounds, when I flopped into my own bed that night, I still thanked God for my other “normal” audiences!
Whilst typing this blog, I am doing what I love to do – eat biltong! I cast my eyes to the left and there, sitting on her haunches in the typical “beg” position is my dog, Perdita! Hell, she is cute, and what she would like is definitely not lost in translation! ”Ah ah, Angel-Face, biltong is a death trap for dogs. Hold on, let’s see what we can find in the fridge.”
Five minutes later, Perdita is happily polishing off last nights stew, while I sit watching a DVD of The Good Wife. Silence reigns. We are content…….

The post Lost in Translation! appeared first on 'ear 'ear! by Gaynor Young.