John Barnard

Mom included pictures from her early morning walk on the farm. Wildflowers, the rushing creek, the dogs and the mountains. She hasn’t been doing all that great lately. A botched medical procedure, ever increasing pressures at her job and the general stresses of making ends meet in a town where some of its residents are tearing themselves and their families apart from the inside, is weighing heavy on her. Yet, she gets up every morning speaking of hope and new beginnings. Dad updated me on the best news I have received in a long time. Finally, after months of waiting, wondering and sleepless nights, the government finally sent their livestock representatives to vaccinate the herd against Foot and Mouth disease. The disease is currently wreaking havoc among herds of cloven hoofed animals in the country and while farmers, veterinarians and members of the private sector are working tirelessly to expedite the vaccination and distribution of urgent vaccines through litigation dealing with government incompetence, challenges with cold chain logistics and the provision of knowledgeable boots on the ground it seems that the relentless onslaught of the disease keeps casting a shadow on our nation. Despite strict bio security protocols and control, the spread of the disease has been overwhelming and for most farmers, feedlots and livestock owners it is only a matter of time before it reaches their herds. With vaccines now being manufactured and distributed in a more organized and regular fashion it is my hope that Foot and Mouth Disease will be stopped in its tracks soon. Millions of animals have already been lost and thousands of farmers have lost everything. Add the recent floods and other natural disasters, the soaring fuel and fertilizer prices, inflation and the grave predictions of severe drought over the next few years and it seems certain that our country and its people will be falling on ever intensifying hard times. My sister is my best friend. She carries the load of living on Tygerfontein and raising a family there. It is not an easy life. The farm keeps taking from you and will grind you into moon dust if you are not cut out for it. She makes everything better with her beautiful soul, capable hands and deep knowledge of animals. She works in town as a teacher during the week and makes sure her two boys receive the best opportunities possible in education, sport and adventure. Along with my brother-in law, they criss cross the country to sport meetings, choir performances and other events and the boys show their appreciation through hard work, discipline and dedication. I am incredibly proud of them and I am grateful that we are raising those boys in an environment where they live close to their grandparents, understand the merits of hard work, respect and the value of a life, living in harmony with nature.

Here in the desert, Summer has arrived. My third in Qatar. I cannot believe how quickly two years have flown by. I have learnt so much about life and about myself. I have learnt that there is a difference between the COST of things and the PRICE that they demand. I have seen who my real friends are and I have learnt to make peace with the loss of others. I have made incredible friends here and I am grateful beyond words for my good fortune. One day, when I finally pack my bags to go back to the farm, it wont be the lights of the city, the noise of the clubs and bars. It wont be the opportunity and comfort that this job provides me that I will miss. No, it will be the people I love that will tug most on my heart strings. However, it is not time for that yet. I am two weeks into a very challenging En Route Control Conversion course and at times it feels like I am drinking from a fire hose. New techniques, new challenges and new experiences are coming at me hard and I can feel personal growth taking place in real time. I spend valuable time with my friends and there are exciting times ahead. Travel plans, Beach Volleyball and dinner dates. Late nights, music and laughter that carry us through the hard times that come to us all. It is good to be alive. I have recently experienced another wonderful surprise, this time, in my songwriting.

The Muse showed up again, inspiring me to write in my mother tongue. I have already written two new songs in Afrikaans and it is a challenging endeavor. Avoiding clichés, finding the right words and melodies, honoring and learning from the great Afrikaans writers who paved the way. I don’t know if I will do this beautiful language any justice but I am certain that there are stories to tell and hearts to touch. My job, as always, is empathy and being true to myself. All I can do is let the stories of love, loss and adventure permeate my soul and my writing. Once it’s out there, a song is no longer yours. From then on, it belongs to the world. It becomes part of the soundtrack of some persons life and hopefully it makes them feel something. Provide some comfort in the dark days, some peace in the storm. I am looking forward to sharing these new songs with the world but first I have to write and write some more. Fail, start over and keep showing up every day with my notebook and guitar.

JB