Ella's yellow ribbon

There is a yellow ribbon that has become “Ella’s”.

I don’t know who organised the ribbons but people were wearing them at her memorial – and now that little ribbon is a special sign for Ella and I am so grateful to the person / people who made this happen. In the first few months after her accident it was a massive comfort to me to see anyone wearing it. A very special friend, let's call her NMac, who has chosen to walk this path beside me, wore the ribbon for longer than I did! I don’t actually have the words to express how much seeing that yellow ribbon means!

Some people say not to give Ella a colour, or a saying, an item, or a place. I say I need something to hold onto – and if it’s a colour, or a saying, an item or a place, or lots of each of those, then so be it!

My ribbon is with me every day at work, attached to my entrance tag. I wear it to Jem’s sports festivals, to school plays and assemblies. I arrived at school last week Friday to find Hannah, one of Ella’s close friends wearing it – 7 months later!

It has been worn by people I don’t / didn’t even know.

Horse riders

Runners

…and Rob, or Silent Bob as he is fondly known, riding in the 2016 Tour de Tuli.

I met Rob in December 2015 in Dullstroom. He was with Lindy who we had met on Tour a few months before. All 4 kids were with us, we were having a waffle-eating, milkshake-drinking marathon when Lindy and Rob pulled up in front of the restaurant we were at. It was a great surprise to see Lindy and to meet her man. They met the kids…and they met Ella, a mere month before she found her wings.

In the months after Ella’s accident Lindy and I were in contact a number of times. When I phoned her in tears a few days before we were due to leave for Tuli – freaking out about not having contact with Jemma while we were away - she strongly reassured me that whilst on Tour, despite being out of signal range, I would have access to the satellite phone whenever I needed it. She also told me to take a yellow ribbon to Tuli as Rob was going to wear it in memory of Ellie.

Wow! What an awesome gesture! I was overwhelmed and just cried even more!

So my sweet girl’s ribbon travelled with Rob for 4 days of incredible adventuring, and believe me when I say that Ella couldn’t have chosen a better person to travel through Botswana and Zimbabwe with. Soft-natured and peaceful, patient, observant and funny is how I would describe Rob, someone Ella would really like. Rob has done Tuli many times, he is a seasoned Tuli tourer. This year he rode with Group 14 - a crazy, fun-loving, adventurous group of people who did way more than just ride the route – they climbed, explored and got lost (and found by the helicopter crew). I believe they saw more of the stark beauty of the Tuli block than anyone else did this year. They certainly had the most fun; arriving dirty, hungry, full of mischief – and last in to every brunch stop our team was waiting at. Every time I heard Group 14 was arriving, I’d see Rob wearing his yellow ribbon for my girl.

Ella never really got to go the bush - not the real African bush - she would have loved it. Just as her Pops and Oumie, her Nanna, her Mom and her Uncle do. If you've heard me speak about her, you'll know she was always nervous to do something new - certainly no daredevil - but she met every challenge head on, with a passionate heart, unwavering determination and oodles of curiosity. I have no doubt she loved being part of Tour de Tuli. As much as her Mom and Francis did.

There is no way to thank Rob and Lindy. They have no idea how much it meant to me, to all of us. They will always be special to me. I will always be grateful to them.

This weekend, Steve sets out on his first mountain bike ride with his brother Greg. He'll be participating in the 3-day Road to Nowhere stage race. His little girls are both proud of him - we all are. He'll be wearing Ella's yellow ribbon. Watch this space for more.

xoxo