To my late great grandmother

I can't recall the very first time I met her, but she was a beautiful woman. Filled with so much Humour...she could turn a frown into a smile instantly. I called her gogo..because that was how my mum addressed her, and maybe because i found khokho a lil bit awkward. She was a woman with many names, the one we used was Gogo uShuwa. I know we hail from a place where u could probbaly find someone with a first name such as Peanut Butter or somethng of that nature...but we didn't call her uGogo uShuwa coz that was her name...she was called uGogo uShuwa because like my late Mamomdala they both liked to say ...akuthi shuwa. In Mutare they called her Gogo Matimati ...because she was a good Tomato farmer, and we nicknamed her Sosiji (Sausage) for anytime u went into town and asked wat she wanted all she would ask for was...isosiji mntanami. I am sure if u talk to any of her grand children or great-grandchildren we'd unearth more names. Come to think of it i don't know what her real name was...but that doesn't matter... she was a small resourceful and funny lady.

The last time I saw her,age had taken its toll on her, she'd lost all her teeth ...as a matter of fact she came with mum to visit while I was at Boarding school.I was so excited to see her, and yet she covered her mouth because she didn't want me to see her missing teeth, yet my young sis cracked one joke and we ere all roaring with laughter , and the hand that covered her mouth, uncovered it..and before u kno it her little smile and spark in her eyes had reduced me to tears.

I remember gng through the family album withher and we stumbled on a picture of her. It was her way back in her hayday. She was standing with her hubby rocking the standard hand by the waist pose. When I asked her wat was with the pose ...her answer was.. sasivela emtshadweni singela mali yebhasi, ngangigaya iplan. Looking at the said picture no one woulda guessed she had no bus fare.

Today I learnt this phenomenal woman passed away on the 23rd of Dec, 2008. I am a little bit sad...yeah a little...I kno she lived a good life. I was blessed to know such a soul, and not only kno her but also be a part of her. I don kno wat yr she was born and how old she was but I am convinced she'd passed the 100yr mark. I am also happy because her passing brought me closer to one long lost relative. She may be gone, but in my mind she'll be around and I'll talk and reminisce abt her because she was one wonderful lady, and I feel we were blessed, because in this life not everyone has the opportunity to meet their great grandma.