And just like that,a wave of overwhelming sadness swept over me on the late afternoon drive back from Joburg ,this sleepy Winters’ afternoon.I couldn’t explain it or account for it,but now that i’m back in my flat,cuddled in my PJ’s,I think I’ve realised that my sadness may have been confused with nostalgia.

I guess i’m going to miss these streets and friends when I graduate this year.I’ll miss the purple jacaranda blooms,royally lining street after street.I’ll miss the drive to the top of the Voortrekker hill to overlook the city and wish we could go home.I’ll miss the sunlight and the roads between Joburg and Pretoria,and the fast paced people that come to a grinding halt in the gridlocked traffic.I’ll miss the music scene here-gosh!The little local celebrities that become normal humans in all the mundane places that rest of us plebs hide out in.Gigs and shows nearly every night of the week in smokey underground venues or back yards.I’ll miss the place where I went through all my phases.A Smoker and a Saint in the same areas.

I’ll miss the place where I learnt “die taal”.I’ll miss the place where I could get drunk four nights in a row and the place where I now just want to stay in with friends and drink a cuppa.The streets i’ve learnt to run in.The roads i’ve learnt to drive on.The friends I learnt to trust in.

I’ll miss the boys i’ve kissed and the boys I never got too.I’ll miss The Square and I’ll miss the fact that I used to want to actually spend my nights (and some days) there.I’ll miss the place where we were once rebellious and found weed and wine.I’ll miss the place I found God again and the different forms he comes in.

I’ll miss the Hare Krishna society and my residence,Madelief.I’ll miss my family of 360 sisters and the 11 others that looked after them all with me.I’ll miss my job at Red Bull and my beautiful university.I’ll miss the walks to class with my huge headphones blaring.I’ll miss bunking class to go to Menlyn movies.I’ll miss the hot summer rain storms and the contrasting icy winters.

I’ll miss long hours in the law libary.And long hours studying.I’ll miss it even though I am hating it right now.I’ll miss long drives in the middle of the night with my bestie and the loud music we played, on the sullen highway.I’ll miss this flat,my first flat and the independence I found with it.I’ll miss the sound of the speeding cars on the road outisde my bedroom window,that lulled me to sleep.I’ll miss the loud music from the city centre.I’ll miss living right in the hub and the buzz and the heart of Hatfield.

I treasure these moments and its hard to be excited to move on and leave,but at the same time to want to stay snuggled in the safe warmth of my city.The place where I really and truely grew up.012-Pretoria in my hart!