top of page
Writer's pictureCathie Rooyen

Chaos and roses

Thursday 16th March 2023


Creativity comes from chaos.


My old physio once stated this and I can't remember if it was a famous quote but there's a few classic life quotes that have stuck with me ( as well as the lyrics to Bohemian Rhapsody, lol).


I was reflecting on the chaos in South Africa while walking Molly at sunset again. Passing cars waved at me, runners greeted me and a young family with a Yorkie did the cha-cha with our dogs leads.


The chaos factor seems particularly high in Johannesburg at the moment but then this decade has been very out of the ordinary.  My life, this decade, is still as unusual but a lot more spontaneous with my travels. It's not personal chaos but I have responded to the world chaos in surprisingly creative ways.


It took two weeks of global silence and lockdown, with the chaotic digging in my garden of the entire complex's plumbing pipes to unleash Katryn Kwarrentyn and her 400 friends in 2020. My life hasn't been the same since. I've accepted my wacky creativity and love for fancy dress. I look for the story and possibility in everything and everyone.  I'm always just one wig away from a new found friend.  Even though I haven't donned the wig much and with even less variety lately, knowing that I have a possible creative response nearby is incredibly freeing.


The 'power of pretend' is one of my 'keynote speeches' I've yet to present.  I was practicing it in my head on the last stretch of Molly's walk. The applause was ringing in my ears as I bent down to smell the roses and I had a memory wiff of Mum. It was her birthday the other day and she's been on my mind. She tended her roses with Rooibos tea and this particular rose smell jolted me into her presence. I smiled the rest of my walk, knowing that 'it's all going to be okay'.



23 views

Recent Posts

See All

European Summer

In my craziest dreams, I never thought I'd be living like I am. Yet, here I am, sunburnt by the Mediterranean sun after spending the day...

Oh Vienna....

2nd July 2024 The second phase of the year has begun. My birthday has passed which means we're heading towards Christmas. Right now, I'm...

Rerooted

This is my third start of the British summer. Three years in a row I've heeded the call to journey north to explore the land of my birth....

Comments


bottom of page