Marisa 'eM' Louw

Today marks a turning point in my life.   For the past year or so, I started believing that I must be losing my hearing.  I eventually gathered all my courage, almost as much as I needed to make a dentist appointment, and booked myself for a hearing test at the Phonak Ear Institute in Bryanston.   Driving there this afternoon, I felt a familiar feeling of anxiety and smoked one cigarette after the other in the traffic down William Nicol Drive from Fourways.  As I walked into the waiting area of the Ear Institute, I was greeted friendly by some wrinkled faces surrounded by ailing, snow-white hair.  The feeling of anxiety amplified, and I could hardly read my own handwriting as I completed the new patient information form.   Once in the consulting room, the audiologist introduced herself and asked why I had booked an appointment.  The answer was quite simple - to find out whether am I going deaf.     After going through my entire medical histor...

Some time ago, I did a course on numerology, one of the two divination methods I like to use.  My first choice will always be the tarot.  Today I decided to analyse myself using numerology.  Haven't done this for me in ages. I am not sure I agree entirely with the personality number ...    Read what the numbers say about me and let me know whether you agree or not.    Base number:   gives an overall view of the person’s strengths and weaknesses (full birth name - Marisa van Aswegen) .   One is dynamic and focused, goal-oriented and full of energy. One is confident, assertive, and effective. One is original, a good planner, and capable of carrying out its plans. One is self-reliant and independent. One likes to be the centre of attention and is a natural leader.  On the negative side, One can be self-centred, egoistic, and opinionated. One does not always work well with others, can be jealous or self-righteous, and does not like to share ...

  My husband and I couldn't have made a better decision than moving out of the city.   Parys is a small town in the countryside in the Free State province.  It is just over an hour's drive from Johannesburg, with a population of almost 11,000 (according to the 2001 census).  Coming from Randburg, with its population of 133,000, this is honest small-town living for us.   What makes Parys special?  I guess the most important thing is that we now own a house.  After 16 years of renting, during which time we could have almost settled a bond, we were lucky to have found a dwelling we could call our own.   Living in the countryside means we get to see the night sky.  No city lights to dim the beauty of planets, stars and other heavenly bodies.  Before moving here, the last time I saw the Milky Way was when I visited the Johannesburg Planetarium as a child.   On Monday, I watched squirrels quarrel over something next to the ...