Around the world in 80 years....

Fr. Robin turned 80 on January 15th 2014 and we celebrated this milestone with a Mass and Pound Party at Ashankur Hall between Holy Family Church and the Graveyard. I didn't quite expect to see such a crowd and they numbered around 80 by the end of the evening ... people popping in after work to join in the celebrations and wish the man of the moment! Everyone brought a plate so the food and drink was quite adequate to quell the apetite of the swelling crowd. It was many years since we stopped having the family camps in Khandala and Now that hes a part of priests tending to the flock at Holy Family Parish I expected to see a many new, unknown faces. Rushing from work, I managed to pick up a cake from Merwans and zig zagging through pedestrian traffic heading homeward I trudged up the slopes leading to the Hall. Earlier that day I invited my folks to the party and my dad was already there, my sister was still on her way and would take another hour or so to reach. A friend of mine was dicing with the idea of dropping by but I wasn't too sure she'd make it.

As I entered the hall, I saw fr. Robin enrobed in the Cassock and making introductions amongst his congregation, Mass begun with gusto and there was prayer and singing, the sermon and gospel a repition of yester years but all in all it was a pretty good service. Theres a different kind of warmth that comes from knowing your neighbour intimately and I realized during this communion what it is that the Church pursues with its community masses, rosaries and Basic Christian Community get-togethers. Mass was soon over and people milled around to wish Fr. Robin and lay out all the food they'd brought. 5 Cakes on the table and 6 dozen candles were lit for the Birthday Boy to blow out as the crowd sang "Happy Birthday" out of key. Cool drinks were poured, sandwiches, patties and cake did the rounds as we all mingled, catching up with those whom we knew. Most faces were of veterans from camps I'd missed and I thought the young brigade were engaged elsewhere, but they made a late appearance on the scene. My friend Mona, did turn up and as it turned out she too knew a couple of others in the crowd so I guess it was a good catch up. Among the familiars were Tesclin and Carlos with their families, Aunt Fats, Aunt Cynthia, Bindu and Arleene and her kids. My KBA Team Mates: Ryan, Neil and Nishtha also arrived although a tad late.

I'm glad we had a fine time that day because I've noticed life getting a dash to tight for comfort all of a sudden... too busy, too hectic, too politicized. I've managed to meet Fr. Robin every once in a while and each time I find something missing, some old part that has crumbled from that old memory of the fun and joy life was. Now fully engaged as an Assistant Parish Priest, duty bound to be on call all the time, actually having to live in a community as crazy as a bunch of half a dozen ageing priests can probably get- No longer foot loose and fancy free to roam the high hills and mountains -thats a cagey feeling and I've felt it enough times to know how it chaffes at the wrist. Writing this today and knowing he is out in the hills doing what he loves at this moment is a good thought to end this day on.