The Federation
My grandparents both
worked, which in those times, in the late 60’s and 70’s was indeed unusual.
They worked at their own business which was housed on the property on which we
lived. The organization was called The Federation of the Covenant People. It was a religious organization which had its
roots and thinking firmly planted in nationalism and racism. My grandfather was
the main” preacher” and he held meetings and wrote articles and gave lectures
on the merits of his view of the bible. His views excited and drew those in the
wider Joburg community of similar views as well as from other countries. Most
of these people were kind and even sweet on the outside. My grandparents were
deeply racist and openly anti – Semitic. I grew up hearing and being told of
all the wrongs of certain groups as apposed to others. And yet for some strange
reason I rejected their ideas at an early age. I suspect this was because
despite my grandparents thinking that they were upright and supreme they were
simply unable to protect a 4 year old little girl in their care. Nothing like
the reality of trauma and abuse at the hands of those who are so sure of their
self righteousness makes one question their beliefs.
My grandparents were
very much a part of my early life. My grandmother was a large woman who
continually battled the war of the bulge. She died her hair regularly, smoked
the same brand of cigarettes that came in a flat while box with silver foil
paper on the inside. I loved the small of those boxes and used to collect them
to keep things in. She was a clever woman who ruled her husband in a subtle but
clear way. Her marital advice to my mother was that my mom should be the one
who made the decisions but that she should let my dad think he had. Much like
the words from My Big Fat Greek Wedding. “The man is the head but the woman is
the neck. She an turn the head anyway she wants to.”
My grandmother liked
to play cards and bet using matchsticks as the money. One of the things we
loved was to play this game with her. She had a gloriously heart laugh and
loved a good joke. I loved her very much and enjoyed spending time with her
despite the cool undercurrents and strange thinking she had.
My Grand father was a
bubbly person. He had enjoyed life on the stage singing opera as well as
wrestling at some point. He loved an audience and I suppose that is what drove
him into the work at The Federation. He
was a deeply proud and selfish man. He loved to eat burnt food which with
hindsight was probably his downfall.
Towards the end of his life he grew very quiet. He died of cancer one
night with my dad at his bed side. All the greatness attributed him by my
grandmother had vanished and he was alone to face his death.
Both my grandparents
loved to drink brandy and ginger ale. It
was one of their signature drinks. They were of the most generous people I
knew. They had little of their own but would always share with us that which
they had. Christmas time was an example of this. They would buy us children all
that our hearts possibly could desire. The gigantic tree brimming with gifts
galore. My parents in comparison could never afford to give us half the toys
and other stuff that my grandparents dished out. My grandfather was the
controlling conductor of the Christmas event. He would dish out his gifts with
a gigantic smile attached to his face, taking great pleasure in this act. It
was totally over the top and yet forms a vivid childhood memory for me.
No comments:
Post a Comment