The reality of life in 2009

2009 has proven to be a crap year where the economy is concerned. For a lot of people, 2009 symbolizes loss, frustration and sometimes despair… *sigh* I thought this was the Chinese year of the Brown Cow which was supposed to symbolize good fortune, health etc.

Listening to the Christmas Wishlist on 94.7 Highveld Stereo in the mornings on my way to work, I realize just how blessed we are. Both my husband and I have good and secure jobs. We each have our own car. We have a beautiful house and we have food on the table every night. We have a gorgeous, healthy, almost 2 year old son and I am 32 weeks pregnant with our second son. So far, touch wood, my pregnancy has been smooth sailing and the doctor estimated that this little one will be a healthy 3.8kg at birth.

So many times, we take things for granted. Being able to buy a take away for lunch or buying a new dress for a function seems to be normal to some of us. We complain that living costs have gone through the roof, yet we get in our luxury sedan every morning and go to a job we hate. We complain with the white bread under the arm.

Look around you. Look at all the things you’ve got and tonight, when you tug your healthy child into bed, go down on your knees and say a prayer for those less fortunate than you and say thank you to God for all your privileges.

The Pregnant Conversation

I am almost 32 weeks pregnant and I’ve noticed the general pregnant conversation while talking to one of our producers the other day. It goes something like this:
Pregnant Fairy 1: When are you due?
Pregnant Fairy 2: Mid January. And you?
Pregnant Fairy 1: End of February. Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?
Pregnant Fairy 2: It’s a boy….again. What are you having?
Pregnancy Fairy 1: A girl
Pregnant pause – excuse the pun
Pregnant Fairy 2: Do you have any names yet?
Pregnant Fairy 1: Yes we’re thinking either Lola or Peaches
Another pregnant pause while Pregnant Fairy 2 thinks of a diplomatic response.
Pregnant Fairy 2: Oh! *thinks, “Good grief, my dog’s name is Lola”.*
Pregnant Fairy 1: Do you have any names yet?
Pregnant Fairy 2: No, but we are working on it. *thinks ”and we are seriously considering NORMAL names”*
Pregnant Fairy 1: Are you going for normal birth or caesarean?
Pregnant Fairy 2: Caesarean
Pregnant Fairy 1: I’m going for a normal birth..actually natural, no drugs!

Conversation runs dry.
The end.