The sun is shining, and it’s already 60°, a perfectly lovely day. The animals have taken their usual places in the sun and Fern is stretched and basking.

Last night I was my friends’ house for dinner and games. I felt something on the outside of my ear and grabbed a tick on its way up to my hair. All night long I was itchy and the idea of that tick gave me chills. Bloodsuckers are so gross.

The Red Sox got drubbed last night, and I hope they got losing out of their system as I am going to the game tonight. We have bleacher seats we won at trivia last week. I don’t remember the last time I sat in the bleachers, but they used to be the easiest seats to get. All four of my nephews have fond memories of their first games ever at Fenway. I took them all, and we had bleacher seats. They can still describe the days, the games and the food. All four are huge Sox fans. One of them is coming tonight.

I got a call at 8:15 this morning. It woke me up. The caller asked if it had. I grumpily said yes. I had gone to bed late, around 1, and I still needed a bit more sleep. I always observe the 9 to 9 rule-no calls before 9 and none after. 8:15 is just wrong.

Today I reserved my room in a guest house in Accra. Julie, the manager, and I had a lovely conversation. Even after being away forty years I automatically fell into the English pattern of speech we all used when talking with Ghanaians. We spoke slowly and enunciated T’s like in waTer, pronounced waTa, and beTTer, pronounced beTTa, so we could be understood. Idioms and colloquialisms were out. Julie had no problem understanding me, and I was thrilled. She was amazed that I had lived in Bolga and was going back after 40 years. During the conversation she    laughed several times with a hearty Ghanaian laugh. She wanted to know how old I am now, and said how wonderful when I told her. Julie is going to meet me at the airport. I’m just sorry I arrive at 6:50 pm as I would love to relive my first journey from the airport and my first look at Africa and Ghana. After so long, I suspect I’ll be amazed again.