JOYEUX ANNIVERSAIRE CATHERINE! Birthday Bisous from the Bedonalds
When Catherine walked into a Twickenham CND meeting in 1983, it seemed as though the dingy room over the pub became filled with light. Not only was she one gorgeous-looking chick, but the humour, optimism, courage, and sheer joie de vivre she radiated transformed the mood in the room from one of earnest, rather solemn, intensity to buoyant dynamism. I knew right then that that smile would change my life for the better - and be a positive force in the lives of so many others. Twickenham CND became a power to be reckoned with, and Catherine's upbeat determination and clear-headed refusal to be cowed motivated and inspired us in our long march through the Thatcher Years.
I stood back and watched as she always made the first leap, and if she felt fear, well, she went ahead and did it anyway. She wrote beautiful, vivid letters to me regularly through her travels in India, China and New Zealand, sharing her adventures, always making me feel I was with her in sprirt. I looked on in admiration when she took off for Nicaragua, effortlessly learning the language, and throwing herself into her work for the Coffee Brigade of the Nicaraguan Solidarity Campaign. And then heading off for Greenham Common, fearlessly fighting for peace, looking out for the other women, looking out for the world.
And man can she tell a story! We were helpless with laughter as she recounted her travels through West Africa, saying to all and sundry "Je t'aime" (I love you) instead of Je l'aime bien" (I like it) Needless to say, she was a big hit in Senegal...!
When she decided that she was going to move to Malaysia, she took her life into her own hands and tirelessly and purposefully planned and worked to get where she wanted to go and where was best for her and Akira to be. All obstacles, no matter how mountainous, surmounted with her usual grace and decisiveness.
She has set the perfect example to me in the way she's bringing up her beautiful daughter Akira, and I'll never forget how my weenies sighed with pure bliss when she took them in her arms and allowed this neurotic mother to calm down!
Since those very first days in Twickenham, Catherine been an inspiration to me. She's seen me through some pretty rough times, and I know I can always count on her. The night before I moved from London to Paris on New Year's Eve, 1991, and from a tired, old relationship to a scary new one, she stayed with me, held me, kept me together. That night, she said to me as I wept and wailed, whinged and moaned: "Remember, Julie, wherever you go, you take yourself with you". And miraculously made me feel that that was a good thing!
My darling Catherine, wherever you've gone (and you've been almost everywhere!) you've taken yourself with you, lighting up people's lives, making them laugh, dance and sing, helping them through, making them feel anything's possible. I should know! And now you're in the land of your dreams, blooming where you've planted yourself, bringing love and joy to everyone around you.
I miss you with every fibre of my being, and am typing through tears, and yet I know you're right here with me. I love you dearly, and Jean-Marc, Sam, Niamh and I wish you JOYEUX ANNIVERSAIRE! And the happiest birthday you have EVER had.
No comments:
Post a Comment