It is strange, but I have never camped anywhere in Africa where I have not felt, as I left it, that we all have left something of ourselves behind.”
The day is simply gorgeous with the bluest of skies and a summer warmth. It has been a different sort of Sunday as I didn’t go out for breakfast, but I did sit outside to drink my coffee. I closed my eyes and let the sun warm me, and I listened to the birds greeting the day and to Gracie wandering through the backyard grasses. Every now and then a car went by, but it only disturbed my reverie for a moment. Around eleven, I dragged myself back inside to call my sister in Colorado, a call I make every Sunday, and now I’m still inside to write Coffee. It will be a quick post. The day is calling me.
Gracie is on the bad list. Last night I heard a rustling sound, the sort a package makes, and looked from here in the den down the hall to the crate on which Gracie’s food and treats are kept but saw nothing. Later I went to give Gracie one of her Happy Hips treats and the package, the newly opened package, was gone. This morning I found the empty package in the yard. That noise I had heard was Gracie stealing the package. She then sneaked outside with it. No question she knew she was doing something wrong.
I have a wedding to go to today at four. Receiving the invitation meant I needed to buy a fall dress to join my summer dress, the dress which came with me to Ghana. I told my sister my new dress is in the pink family and has a jacket with a scalloped edge. I also told her I bought new black shoes. The dress came Wednesday. It is green. The shoes are brown. Now I’m thinking I’ll look like a tree.
I never should have gone to Ghana. Now all I can think about is getting back there for another visit. When I first came home from the Peace Corps, the feeling was even more intense. It took months before I stopped longing for Ghana, but I never stopped thinking about it. I have it all figured out. I need to replenish my savings to the pre-Ghana level then I can start saving for the next trip. I’m guessing two years max before I get back there.
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October 9, 2011 at 1:10 pm
Well pink and green isn’t that close to be honest š š š
29F here this morning and I had to use my winter jacket for the first time this autumn. But they day became rather nice after all, now it rains again.
And they say dogs doesn’t have any consciense š They surely do but it doesn’t last that long š š Nova hasn’t stolen any food yet but I’ve seen her trying so now I have to think of where I put anything edible or anything smelling like it is edible. I’m pretty sure its juat a matter of time until she’s successful š š
Have a great day!
Christer.
October 10, 2011 at 12:17 pm
Christer,
yesterday was magic. Someone pulled summer out of a hat for another day. It was beautiful!
Gracie knew exactly what she was doing or she wouldn’t have taken the stolen loot outside!
Enjoy what’s left of your day!
October 9, 2011 at 1:23 pm
Hi Kat,
Gracie is a clever dog to know about hiding the evidence. Little Rocky would leave it right out there for God and all the world to witness. š
Yes you should have gone to Ghana. Why avoid a beautiful experience just because you might miss it when it’s over? Besides, now you have another goal; to get back there.
Gorgeous weather up here. Rocky and I spent a couple of hours at the lake, me taking pictures and he sniffing stuff and playing with random dogs.
Green dress, brown shoes. Eh. Most of the time your feet will be out of sight anyway. It will work. Enjoy the wedding.
October 10, 2011 at 12:19 pm
Hi Caryn,
Gracie is also a sneaky dog!
You’re right. I am so glad I went to Ghana and was able to fulfill a promise I had made to myself, but wanting to go back again is so strong. Maybe that will fade in time, but I’m making a new I’ll return promise!
Beautiful weather here. It’s like an unexpected gift, always the best kind!
October 9, 2011 at 1:32 pm
If you were watching the Baseball game last night you saw that the western half of the DFW area got a lot of welcomed rain. I live on the eastern side and received a light sprinkling. The Rangers held on to a one run lead to win the game after two rain delays. Go Rangers!
Yesterday was warm and clear in Toronto when I left. I think it’s called “indian summer”. Maybe the PC term is now “native American summer”. Why do you need a fall dress to go to a wedding? Why not wear the summer one and call it a native American summer dress.
I think it’s called vacation remorse. Everyone wishes that the good times would continue forever.
Unfortunately, nothing is forever, I was saddened by the news of the passing of Steve Jobs on Wednesday. The world has lost a great innovator, designer, and businessman. His wonderful ability to create a reality distortion field is no more. His legacy included the personal computer, the i everything and a new model for selling digital music, movies and books. He truly changed the world by thinking different. He will be missed.
October 10, 2011 at 12:23 pm
Bob,
I saw the game, and I saw the rain. That surprised me as I knew how horrendous the weather has been there. This was one time a rain delay was welcomed!
The summer dress is flowery, not flowery like my grandmother wore but not right for the wedding either. I figure I need one dress for every season though I can use the fall dress in spring as well. All I need now is a winter dress to complete my wardrobe.
Steve Jobs truly changed the world, made it a whole lot smaller. he left a remarkable and unequaled legacy!
October 9, 2011 at 4:50 pm
A year after Rebecca served in Zimbabwe three of the girls she served with spent a vacation week at Victoria Falls. It was so beautiful and cheap accommodations they stayed there the week rather than hike it back to Chivona where she taught. A year after that her girlfriend had got a job at the State Dept and was somewhere in Africa when she had a terrible car accident. Rebecca flew to Baltimore to see her at Johns Hopkins and told me she was hurt from head to foot. Didn’t return to work for seven months.
October 10, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Z&Me,
Accidents are a common occurrence in Africa. We lost one of our volunteers because of a motorcycle accident. I can see him in one of our pictures as we were leaving for the airport, and all I can think about is how sad that you won’t be going home. The worst of all accidents was when 4 female volunteers from Liberia decided to rent a car and see some of West Africa before they went home. All 4 were killed when their car was hit.
October 9, 2011 at 8:10 pm
Kat,
Your comment about the green dress and brown shoes reminded me of a hilarious episode on the Tonight Show from 1969 …
George Gobel was a scheduled guest on the show. Before he came on, Dean Martin and Bob Hope dropped in unexpectedly. They both are cracking up with Carson & McMahon when Gobel finally comes out and takes the guest seat.
After a couple of quick jokes, George asks Johnny, “Did you ever feel like the whole world was a tuxedo and you’re a pair of brown shoes?”
You can watch the frivolity in these two YouTube clips:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YJ3-mByYiI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5HAul8w-Z0
Jeff
October 10, 2011 at 12:37 pm
Jeff,
These are hysterical. I love the Dean Martin section and roared at him a few times. The booze and the cigarettes were amazing to see. It has been so long since I’ve seen them on TV.
When I saw Johnny’s ascot I thought it looked silly and Dean had great fun with it. Johnny was a great sport about it.
Thanks so much for these. They brought back the great days of TV for a bit!
October 10, 2011 at 8:18 am
this post excites me and also worries me, you have lived a very good life Kat: from what i can tell you dedicated yourself to children for most of it. Two years is a very long time, especially at your age, one fall and you know how long it takes to recover. how much time do you really think you have left here on earth? At some point you must ask yourself what is the most important thing for me to do? and then you must do it! we all love you here at Coffee, you inspire and soothe us with your stories and words.but i think you know living with regret is a very difficult life, we love and support you kat, trust your instincts!
October 10, 2011 at 12:41 pm
splendid.
I am not regretful but rather wistful. I loved my two weeks, but there is still so much I want to see and do. I have never been to the Volta Region, and that’s on my list for the next trip as is Cape Coast and the slave castles.
I’d like to think that 64 isn’t all that old anymore. As for falling, I’ve been doing that all my life so the odds are in my favor that a minor bone or two are all that might be in jeopardy.
I need the two years to save enough money to get there. It will give me an incentive to sock away the bucks.
October 11, 2011 at 8:24 am
Great! i am happy if you are content and I do believe anticipation is 75% of a trip anyway!!!! xoxoxoxoxox