No getting around it, today is an ugly winter’s day. It is rainy and windy and colder than the forecast. The dump was on my to do list today, but I’ve decided the dump can wait one more day. Cozy and comfy and warm are far more inviting.

The last few days, since Christmas, have been quiet. Yesterday I went through my presents again. I put away a couple of gifts and ate chocolate covered Devil Dogs, but the rest of my presents are still under the tree. Putting them all away is the beginning of the end.

I am watching a bad science fiction movie, bad being generous. The actors are totally unknown to me. The plots are repetitive, and the few special effects are silly. It is an almost perfect movie for me. It just needs to be in black and white.

During my first holiday season in Ghana, I went north after Christmas. With two of my friends I traveled to Ouagadougou in what is now Burkina Faso. Back then it was Upper Volta. We stayed a couple of days then took a Trans African bus to Niamey, Niger. The bus broke down. The driver, in Hausa, told me, “Ya ƙãre.” It is finished. We had to wait for another bus. By the time
we were back on the road, it was so late we ended up parked outside a post office all night as we had its mail. It was cold, desert at night during the harmattan cold. We had no blankets and no food as we had expected to be in Niamey. The driver was amazed I spoke some Hausa and had become a
bit of a friend. He shared his food and hot coffee with me and gave me a blanket. I shared it all with my friends. This second bus also broke down so, instead of waiting, we hitched to the border where we sat hoping for a ride. The border between Upper Volta and Niger was a long pole balanced on two barrels, one on each side of the road. Borders were casual back then. I got a ride and traveled on to Niamey and the Sahara. I traveled the whole of that first Christmas vacation. The last night before home, New Year’s Eve, was spent in Ouaga. I went to a party at the US ambassador’s house. It was amazing with white gloved servers and food I hadn’t seen I’d been in Africa. I drank champagne and toasted the new year. It was an unexpected and wonderful ending to the old year and to that first Christmas away from home.

It must have been a surprise to see a Wednesday posting yesterday, but I was still caught by the season and wanted to keep Christmas going just a tiny bit longer so I posted. I was having such a great day, I forgot to mention the Wednesday-Thursday switch this week.

My dance card for the rest of the week is empty. This is sort of how hibernation must feel. I’m just better situated than the bear.

Until tomorrow!