VN November 2021

Vetnuus | November 2021 38 Sitting there on the floor of my office, looking down into those soft green eyes, my cup was overflowing as we hugged each other, kissing and laughingwhile we were crying at the same time. Married 20 years by then, with two boys and a girl, we had been through some very deep waters, but we had also had some extraordinary times; I felt somehow that now we were relaunched on the same trajectory, both of us new-born children of the Living God and with a new hope. She had been down to the deepest pit of depression, where all the life had drained from her, and her beautiful green eyes had changed to a dull slate-grey, where she moved as if in a trance. Where going home in the afternoons, rather than looking forward to her welcoming love, I often dreaded what I would find. A few years ago, we did a course with Dr Phil and at the beginning, he suggested we write down 5 points in our lives, which were the turning points. One of those occurred for me while I was still a student. During our 4th year, we spent some time seeing practice with a private vet and a StateVet. I had chosen togo toGrahamstown for my State vet practice, as there was no private vet there at the time, and the rumour went that one would be able to see more clinical work there because of that. I was really not interested in working for the State, so this attracted me. My classmate Iain Purchase had spent the three weeks before there and had found private digs which I could follow up with. Arriving there on Monday morning after a long journey from Cape Town, where I had seen practice with the Cape Veterinary Hospital, I went to the lodgings and was made welcome by Mrs van Heerden. Her husband was in the police, and she had a son the same age as myself with whom I would share a room while I was there. I went to report to the State vet's office immediately and arrived back later that afternoon. I had scarcely walked in when a lively young fellowbounced into the room, sticking out his hand and introducing himself as Barend. He was full of life and fun, and within a few moments, he announced that he intended to find a girl for me to spend time with during the next three weeks of my stint there. A fewevenings later, he askedme to give hima lift to a friend's house to collect some records he had lent. Halfway across Grahamstown, I followed him into an inauspicious suburban home to collect the items. Standing around in the lounge, I absently took in the attractive furnishings and decorations while the parents called the friend. Hearing a sound, I looked up, and it was as if a spotlight had come on, filling the room with light, and a musical symphony was playing, clashing cymbals and piano rolls, as a girl walked into the room. In the movies, they would speak of gasping for breath and a heart pounding wildly. I can't recollect what went through my mind and what was happening to my body, except that I had never set eyes on anyone so beautiful before and every sense of mine was suddenly tingling and alive. Barend asked for his records, and I was introduced to her briefly before we left without sitting down. Emily, I had never met an Emily before, and even today, when I say the name, I think of an emerald, scintillating with waves of gorgeous green. As I stumbled out after Barend into the cool summer evening, I said to him, "why didn't you introduce me to that girl?" Passing me off with, "Oh, forget about her, she has a boyfriend. I will find someone else for you". He got intomy bakkie and slammed the door. The rest of the week passed in a daze, all I could think of was this exquisite creature who was out of my reach. Barend followed up on his promise and introduced me to several other girls, but I was not remotely interested in spending time with any of them. The following week, Barend announced he was taking me to the annual police dinner the following evening. On a beautiful warm summer's evening the next day, we arrived at the venue. The dinner was in the yard of the police station, and there was one long table laid for 76 people. The redolent aroma of summer blossoms hung in the air, mixed with the mouth-watering smell of the food that was being prepared. Walking through the buzz of conversation amongst the brightly clad crowd, we sought to find a place to sit. I didn't expect to see anyone there that I knew but enjoyed the feeling of summer fun in the air. Finding a place where we could sit next to each other, we took our chairs. Pulling up my chair under the table, I looked up at the person sitting on the other side of the table. I blinked, and I'm suremy heart missed a beat. Could this be a vision or a dreamor something? No, it was her, Emily. Greeting her, I scarcely noticed the fellow sitting next to her, who she introduced as her boyfriend. I was a relatively naïve 20-year- old, but somehow all my instincts took over. For the next 90minutes, Recollections 50 - Emily (Part 1) Ian du Toit Story