MEANDERING, by Petal Mary O’Hea. Self-published. 2008. 141pp.
Reviewed by Michael Shackleton
Meandering is a fitting title for this book of random reminiscences. The author’s approach is to present a series of moments and people in her past who helped her, as she remarks, “to live my life to the full”.
O’Hea was born in Durban in 1920. Her mother, who had recovered from the frightful flu epidemic of 1918, had a devotion to St Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower. Fearing that the effects of her illness would prevent her from bringing a normal baby into the world, she prayed to the Little Flower. When her baby was born a healthy little girl, she named her Petal, to honour the saint.
Her family lived in Russell Street, Durban, and she attended the Convent High School of the Holy Family Sisters, then in St Andrew’s Street. A staunch Catholic, she and her family became busily involved in the parish activities at Emmanuel cathedral, and were well known by many of the clergy, including Fr Denis Hurley OMI, future archbishop of Durban.
The author tells of her romance on board ship and how she landed the captain himself as her husband. From then on, each of her chapters focuses on people she met and the lessons she learned from these meetings. She admits with gratitude that she has had a fulfilling life and now, heading towards 90, she is in “God’s peace”.
Not every reader will find her many personal recollections of absorbing interest, but Petal Mary O’Hea’s story is a straightforward account of life as a Catholic involved in education, and how her faith had a strong bearing on her ups and downs. This is the sort of book to pick up when the fancy takes you and perhaps appreciate the mystery of life as it is played out in each of us.
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