Like there is no tomorrow...

I experienced one of the most beautiful sunsets driving from Mpumalanga headed home to the west of Pretoria the fourth of this month_ just last Friday. I have never seen such a bright, golden yellow sky the way I did that day. With no hesitation, I immediately paused on my driving and just indulged. I am a serious sucker. I have had my share of sunsets, so I knew within thirty seconds of driving further on, I would be experiencing the light differently. I was not about to regret not fully embracing nature’s gift. It is the most mesmerizing experience ever! I felt good about my life that late noon, I found that one positive thing about what could be described as rush hour drive from a hectic day at work. I felt blessed to have taken notice. I still remember how excited I was when sharing this with my spouse. Living in that moment, positively, was exhilarating. Felt so alive.

A night ago(the 9th/June /2021) however, I had a near death experience. My family and I actually. This is just five days from having such a great time enjoying life’s gift, amongst other lovely moments in between. It all begun with making fire at night to keep warm, as we do lately and a build up of carbon monoxide inside our shelter, resulting into poison. The dangers of charcoal briquettes are real, mind the warnings and directions of use on those packs. The worst part of this is that, I later on felt warm enough comfortably take pleasure of a bath with a closed window. I remember going up the stairs and coming down, mentioning that there is a strong smell up there as I waited for the bath tub to fill up. Delightfully went in the bathroom thinking the midst is just water vapor, when in fact it was with a build up of the invisible vapor that grew over time inside the house. When my no tomorrow moment started, I thought I must just open the window and my dizziness would wear off. Then it hit me, I wasn’t breathing well. Thanks to watching the Chicago Fire Series, I literally laid on the floor so that I could catch on some oxygen. It took forever in my mind to breathe well again and I remember praying asking God if I’m really that tired or dying. I had no strength to knock the door. I could only hear my thoughts but with a serious shut off of anything else.

It is my daughter’s cry outside that helped me realize that I am getting my senses back, vaguely. As my body got colder from the tiles, so did the room get clearer. The foggy - blinding environment was loosing its might. I guess however small I managed to open the window, it was enough for a nature’s exchange. I believe my motherly instinct also pushed me to get out to find out what the commotion is about. It was hectic, at any time, my towel wrapping could have fell but it didn't (Yerrr!) . They said she missed a step and fell, she probably couldn’t see. The unconsciousness might have kicked in with them too. Then my son panicked and started saying he can’t breath. Daughter with her father luckily went outside for some air. Her father explains, she thought she was misbehaving and kept apologizing (my poor Nunu). As he opened the door downstairs, I felt the air come up like it is a foreign thing. At this time, priority was to calm my son. Thank God I managed, but as soon as my husband came up to explain that the charcoal smoke is intoxicating us, I remember seeing his body roll and I was out, again. To keep this story short, we could have all lost consciousness and died. A big lesson here. In just a few minutes, it was a matter of life and death. Who would explain it cause the neighbors had just heard us making noise outside as normal, laughing, and the following day, we are dead? How? What? Why? Oh my God for sure, we thank him for life - His Grace.

Life lessons, Life experiences.

The beautiful moments that take our breath away really need to be enjoyed. You just never know if it is your last. It is in that near death experience, in my own home, where my breath was literally overtaken that time felt so ever precious. In that bathroom, I could have laid on that tub for the last time. They would have concluded on suicide, who knows! And I am the kind who asks not to be disturbed when I take my very long baths after a long day. Just imagine this execution. A day later and I still have a piercing headache. Being in a car for too long is not so fun. I have been having a hard time being closed spaces, I literally still gaze at corners trying to figure out if it’s foggy. I think I am traumatized.

I am grateful though, that my family and I have maintained our praying ways even on that unforgettable night. I remember even though it was blurry , “Lord, thank you for life” was my very short but most heart felt prayer. I asked to lay with the kids a bit. Kept checking if they are breathing. It was such a scary and humbling experience. I have taken from it, the powerful lesson on valuing time and trying your best to be present. I cannot stress this enough; notice your surroundings, embrace your life and those in it. Do things you love and create great memories as much as you can. You just never know if what you are doing, saying, thinking and sharing is for the last time. If it is what you will be remembered for. Imagine if I had fought maybe with any member of my family that day, who ever survived would have had to live with that memory for the rest of their life, probably blaming themselves. How are you spending your time? Are you truly making the most of it? Hopefully, you are making it a point that you leave a graceful mark wherever you are, and most importantly, to those you are with, even if it is from a distance.

Please be careful how you keep yourselves warm during this season. Mind those heaters, those candles and fires. Care you have ventilation systems in place all the time. Read up on those manuals on how best to use your appliances and how best to enjoy that fire place. Take all necessary precautions. Keep warm mostly with kindheartedness! Love yours like there is no tomorrow. Choose to enjoy your time, your life. It Matters, You Matter!

Regards

LT