My dearest friend invited us to do their engagement photo shoot in the scenic Clarens, Free State, SA. It was a weekend of enjoying all the wurst that the restaurants had to offer, alongside all things craft and the crisp winter breeze.
Now, I can write quite a bit about my “hartsvriendin” that is Lindi. This woman FEELS and experiences with every piece of her being – intensely and with a shrouded ferocity. And it is always inspiring me. She knows what she wants and also knows how to communicate it artistically.
We hounded poor André for days at end about popping the question. I remember there was one night at our church that Jess, Alex, Klippie and myself ganged up on the poor soul – one of many times – to ask when he would be FINALLY asking for Lindi’s hand in marriage.
But André stubbornly stuck to his guns, and rightfully so. We could not hold back our elation when I finally got a message from Lindi, a photo of a flower ring, as an official announcement that we will be celebrating soon!
This could kick all Lindi’s dreams into gear and let her creative soul soar – which is such an inspiring thing to be around. I love dreaming and doing along with Lindi, putting our hearts into words, translating it into a universal language for others to interpret and feel along with us.
So off we went to Clarens! What better place for a creative muse with good food, beautiful crafts and an ooze of artistry and culture. We walked through the streets, smelled eucalyptus trees, admired tiny houses with wooden beams, ate all the wurst, fudge and tasted a few craft beers.
And it is here where I saw the “polished” side of André – he enjoyed the fancy cheese and chilli vinaigrette, dukka and ciabatta, PROPER coffee – and I could see how he let his soon-to-be-wife bloom in an inspiring place. I was just once again reminded why he was perfect for my dearest friend.
As we were making our way to Clarens, planning the shoot and thinking of locations, we drove past a burnt veld (Yes, in SA we stick to veld, field sounds odd). Anyhoe – side note, that is Lindi’s word – it’s as if in unison both Lindi and I said that we should really shoot in such a location.
And as you would have it, in our mission of chasing the sun, our source of light for the photos, our path crossed with another “burnt” location. And this is why I love when our creativity lanes cross. Lindi, my feelings friend, is also a writer and her words can punch me in the gut – always in a good way.
I asked her to write something for this post, for her husband. It’s Afrikaans and it is the perfect thing for me to end off with.
En dis toe dat ek besef; dat elke nuwe dag, deur ‘n skielike uitbarsting van energie en lig, ‘n stukkie van ons storie so mooi sou weerspieël. Dat elke soen ‘n herontdeking van jou menswees sou wees. ‘n Avontuur waarin ek halsoorkop en sonder twyfel wou verdwaal. Dat elke gebrande deel van ons reis slegs voorbereiding sou wees vir die grond, waaruit nuwe lewe sou spruit en groei en blom en waaruit kleur openbaar sou word. En dat elke lomp en onbeplande dans ‘n geleentheid sou wees om mekaar allaggend, uit te balanseer en om saam ‘n ritme te skep waarop ons as ‘n eenheid vooruitstrewend kon beweeg.
PS. To André.
Thank you for loving my friend the way you do.
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