Sadness brimmed in my eyes. The moment almost shattering my system. As I listened to his soft and reserved tone of voice I could hear how big this moment must’ve been for him. My mouth hung open with amazement, almost as if this moment would be remembered for a long long time and if I were to meet the passer-by’s eyes in the car next to me, their faces would also be telltale of this incredible moment.
How can this be? How can someone have ingratiated themselves into my life like this, got right under my skin and make up such a important part of my day, that this moment could shake me so? It is easy to answer and I will attempt to try and put this in a nutshell through the tears I have had in my eyes since I heard the news.
Nic Marais..even the name brings a smile to my face. Long long ago when I still wasn’t sure which radio station to listen to, he was the one who convinced me during his Breakfast show. It was clear as daylight that this would be the team I would like to share my mornings with. And if he was off-sick, I would listen with less enthusiasm. It was the way he didn’t frilly up his words, did not pussyfoot around something, and stood his guard, stuck to what he believed in, but if he had been proven wrong or given the opportunity to learn something new or different, would be man enough to admit it. No one could run circles around him, even during his interviews with very important people. Even though you could hear that he was in complete awe with the celebrity, he still stayed in control of his words, his wit and even used his enthusiasm and excitement to his advantage during the talk. He was the force to be reckoned with, the one you would eagerly turn on the radio for.
How many of us have been on the receiving end of his voice and candour in the mornings, when you regrettably see the hours pass and realise that the Breakfast show would soon be over, and then even switch off your radio at the end of that show! I have phoned him many times regarding current affairs and points of interest over the years, and each time was met pleasantly, his personality we all knew and loved every morning. As one was driving the kids to school or sat in frustrated anticipation stuck in traffic, Nic and the team saw us through it, and wow, what a team they made. Somehow it just wasn’t the same when he was absent or on leave..
He jolted our memories, our general knowledge, our sense of humor, our love for music..kept us up to date with current affairs and put a smile and a sense of pride on our faces as we found new vigour to challenge the day ahead. He was the one who talked sense into the Capetonians when Escom started having trouble, helped us to understand what really was going on and how we could help, but most of all made us see that we were all in it together. That we should be patient with each other, as we were all going through the same anguish. And that it was OK to be afraid.
He took us into the homes of other Capetonians and made us feel at home. His candour and banter with his fellow broadcasters, helped us to understand their personalities and made us love them through his eyes. And in the process we all fell in love with that comfortable voice. And grew fond of it, looked forward to it.
I recall so many times when I felt all alone and scared of my brutal situation, I would switch on the radio and be taken on a journey of intellectual growth, of joyous laughter and spontaneity, and most of all of the communion with people who enjoyed life, lived life, felt life, challenged life and were no different to my life. I could feel part of their team, in my own special way.
Nic, I realise that you have spent the last 6 years of your life sustaining a very strict routine that most of us would never have been able to keep up, and I congratulate you. It is wonderful to hear you speak of dreams that you now face and our family wishes you only happiness, fortitude, blessings, riches and most of all that all your dreams would come true. May you truly find what you are looking for and that it would help you keep your smile. At first, when I heard you speak this morning, my heart jerked and wanted to scream out for this not to happen. I realise that you should be able to move on, that our desperation would be born out of our own selfish need to keep you in our lives. But in that lies the truth. We are saddened deeply to see you go and will miss you tremendously.
Thank you for being there, regular like clockwork when I switched on my radio, and thank you that you taught me so much over the years. My dad was Danie van Eeden and was part of the SABC from even before I was born and I recall the rules of courtesy and professionalism of broadcasting that was important to him, and truly know that he would’ve been proud of the way you conducted yourself. Trust me, that is a great compliment.
Sadly, we let you go. Thank you, kind Sir, for being such a big part of my day over the last 6 years and I wish you well. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
Kind regards
A very teary
Delene de Wet
2008-05-05
(991 Words)
|
Print this
