It has taken me four years, but I have now settled into the African lifestyle. While I was happy before, it is now more a state of contentment, a richer, more fulfilling happiness. The slow pace of life here has become a true joy for me. It hearkens back to remembrances of the days of my childhood, when afternoons seemed to be endless, and the days progression was of no great importance. I find rapture in the warm sunny days punctuated with rain. The rain gives a rhythm to life, all be it irregular, and that irregularity makes it even more delicious. I am grateful beyond words.
May you all have a exuberant Christmas, and a truly glorious New Year. You are all in my thoughts, and more importantly in my heart.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Life after Benson, Happiness?
The cycle had begun yet again, I was being way too nice to Benson, and he was starting to take advantage......... It's a never ending cycle. I get too nice, let him show up late a day or two, take an extra day off here and there to handle personal business, and then he starts just not showing up for days on end, or coming to work at 10am. for no good reason at all....(he's supposed to be here at 7am) Then I clamp down, and he gets worried about losing his job, so turns into the model employee. It's a cycle that has been going on for over 4 years, but when he works he is unmatched among the gardeners here at the estate. In John's words he "runs hot and cold."
As I said, the cycle had begun - Ben was taking 1 - 2 days off a week and regularly showing up late, John was getting mad. Then out of the blue Benson stopped coming to work at all. I tried phoning him, no answer, and I had this weird feeling that something had happened to him. Finally he came walking down the drive one afternoon. It seems he had been involved in an accident on his bicycle, and was badly hurt. His right arm and torso looked like they had been in a meat grinder, and he couldn't move his arm without severe pain.
I weighed my options, should I tell him that John (and myself as well) had finally had enough just prior to his accident, and had been planning on letting him go, or should I take pity on this poor injured soul who was so worried about his job, and tell him to get well, that his job would be waiting? Of course I chose the second. I told him to go home and get well, and then contacted the contractor (Mr. Clean) who supplies workers for the mine asking for a temporary worker.
He came yesterday, his name is Happiness. (Actually that's what it translates to, I cannot pronounce it in Kaonde) He is young, eager, and working hard but....................he is definitely no Benson. Over the years I have come to believe that Benson has a laser level built into his eyes. Give him a pair of hedge trimmers and he can trim a hedge with the precision of a machinist, flat as a table top with sides so vertical and straight you would swear he used a level, and all by eye. He, using only a shovel, will edge the flower beds into perfect islands of beauty. He just seems to have a knack for tidiness and putting things into order. When he has, as he calls it "maintained" the yard, it just looks so clean, neat, and serene. Now, with Happiness it's another matter all together....
Happiness tried to trim the hedge yesterday. To be honest it looked better before he started. It's a sad sight indeed. I just keep telling myself that it will grow back, and Ben will be back to trim it. Today Happiness is trying to edge the grass and flower beds, but the work is uneven, and he is taking out way too much of the grass - at this rate I will have larger walkways than grass areas. John says I just need to adjust, that Happiness isn't Benson and things change. I don't want to adjust. I don't want Happiness. I want Benson back.
As I said, the cycle had begun - Ben was taking 1 - 2 days off a week and regularly showing up late, John was getting mad. Then out of the blue Benson stopped coming to work at all. I tried phoning him, no answer, and I had this weird feeling that something had happened to him. Finally he came walking down the drive one afternoon. It seems he had been involved in an accident on his bicycle, and was badly hurt. His right arm and torso looked like they had been in a meat grinder, and he couldn't move his arm without severe pain.
I weighed my options, should I tell him that John (and myself as well) had finally had enough just prior to his accident, and had been planning on letting him go, or should I take pity on this poor injured soul who was so worried about his job, and tell him to get well, that his job would be waiting? Of course I chose the second. I told him to go home and get well, and then contacted the contractor (Mr. Clean) who supplies workers for the mine asking for a temporary worker.
He came yesterday, his name is Happiness. (Actually that's what it translates to, I cannot pronounce it in Kaonde) He is young, eager, and working hard but....................he is definitely no Benson. Over the years I have come to believe that Benson has a laser level built into his eyes. Give him a pair of hedge trimmers and he can trim a hedge with the precision of a machinist, flat as a table top with sides so vertical and straight you would swear he used a level, and all by eye. He, using only a shovel, will edge the flower beds into perfect islands of beauty. He just seems to have a knack for tidiness and putting things into order. When he has, as he calls it "maintained" the yard, it just looks so clean, neat, and serene. Now, with Happiness it's another matter all together....
Happiness tried to trim the hedge yesterday. To be honest it looked better before he started. It's a sad sight indeed. I just keep telling myself that it will grow back, and Ben will be back to trim it. Today Happiness is trying to edge the grass and flower beds, but the work is uneven, and he is taking out way too much of the grass - at this rate I will have larger walkways than grass areas. John says I just need to adjust, that Happiness isn't Benson and things change. I don't want to adjust. I don't want Happiness. I want Benson back.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
When you get bored.........make a zebra!
So here I am back in Zambia and finding myself having too much time on my hands.....
I could of course clean the back bedroom, go outside and make Benson remove all the plantings that really make no sense - he likes to put large bushy plants right next to, and even growing out of the middle of walkways - or even go to the gym and workout. But none of these options holds much interest for me.
The back bedroom with it's piles of chitenge, souvenirs, and sewing paraphernalia will always be there, Benson's total lack of logic when deciding where to plant makes my yard more African, and exercise is just plain boring. I was taking walks around the compound for exercise, but with the recent rabies scare don't really feel like making myself a target. Apparently the rabies is suspected to have started with a local dog (or dogs) entering the compound. Recently the guards at the gate have taken to just leaving the boom up. Like a boom gate would really keep out wandering dogs anyway.
Since I don't really feel like cleaning, gardening, or exercise, I have decided to make a life size concrete sculpture of a zebra. (What else is there to do?)
I went to the hardware store yesterday and bought wire to build the framework. I'm not really great a bending wire, but Benson's a champ, and the two of us do make a good team. I printed off a bunch of pictures of the zebra here on the compound, and with my direction, and Benson's labor I think that there's a chance that we can come up with something that resembles a zebra.
I have been reading, and have come up with a formula that consists of 3 parts sand to 1 part concrete. Apparently you build a wire framework, stuff it with newspaper, then cover it in chicken wire. After that you apply two coats of concrete waiting about 30 minutes between coats. The hardest part seems to be making the wire frame, and I've got Benson the master wire bender for that part.
Who knows, if the zebra pans out, I might attempt a giraffe next..............
I could of course clean the back bedroom, go outside and make Benson remove all the plantings that really make no sense - he likes to put large bushy plants right next to, and even growing out of the middle of walkways - or even go to the gym and workout. But none of these options holds much interest for me.
The back bedroom with it's piles of chitenge, souvenirs, and sewing paraphernalia will always be there, Benson's total lack of logic when deciding where to plant makes my yard more African, and exercise is just plain boring. I was taking walks around the compound for exercise, but with the recent rabies scare don't really feel like making myself a target. Apparently the rabies is suspected to have started with a local dog (or dogs) entering the compound. Recently the guards at the gate have taken to just leaving the boom up. Like a boom gate would really keep out wandering dogs anyway.
Since I don't really feel like cleaning, gardening, or exercise, I have decided to make a life size concrete sculpture of a zebra. (What else is there to do?)
I went to the hardware store yesterday and bought wire to build the framework. I'm not really great a bending wire, but Benson's a champ, and the two of us do make a good team. I printed off a bunch of pictures of the zebra here on the compound, and with my direction, and Benson's labor I think that there's a chance that we can come up with something that resembles a zebra.
I have been reading, and have come up with a formula that consists of 3 parts sand to 1 part concrete. Apparently you build a wire framework, stuff it with newspaper, then cover it in chicken wire. After that you apply two coats of concrete waiting about 30 minutes between coats. The hardest part seems to be making the wire frame, and I've got Benson the master wire bender for that part.
Who knows, if the zebra pans out, I might attempt a giraffe next..............
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
High Fashion
Finding clothing that fits here has proven to be a bit of a challenge for me. What's for sale in the shops is mostly from Indonesia and way too small as most Zambian women wear small sizes even though many of them are quite tall. Finding pants is especially hard, and due to this every time I go home I bring a few pairs back with me. The last time I was in the U.S. I was very busy, and didn't have a lot of time to go shopping. While I was in Costco I saw the Gloria Vanderbilt brand of blue jeans for sale. I remembered hearing a friend say how nice these pants were, so grabbed a few pairs and threw them in my suitcase on the way back to Zambia.
As it turns out, my body must not be shaped the same way hers is, as they are the right size, but really don't fit well, and have sat in my closet mostly unworn for almost a year. Last Sunday I decided to make room in my closet so put them, along with some other things that I don't wear often, into a big black plastic bag on the veranda. When Benson came to work on Monday I asked him if he thought they might fit his wife. He was sure they would, and took the bag of clothing home with him last night.
This morning Benson came to work. He was wearing a pale yellow blouse I had purchased in Botswana that is very clearly (to a westerner) a woman's blouse. It's sleeveless, has a very large collar, different African animals embroidered on the bodice, and side slits. With this he was proudly wearing a pair of the Gloria Vanderbilt blue jeans cinched in with his Barack Obama holographic belt. He was quite a sight!
It was very high fashion indeed! I hope he left something for his wife to wear.
As it turns out, my body must not be shaped the same way hers is, as they are the right size, but really don't fit well, and have sat in my closet mostly unworn for almost a year. Last Sunday I decided to make room in my closet so put them, along with some other things that I don't wear often, into a big black plastic bag on the veranda. When Benson came to work on Monday I asked him if he thought they might fit his wife. He was sure they would, and took the bag of clothing home with him last night.
This morning Benson came to work. He was wearing a pale yellow blouse I had purchased in Botswana that is very clearly (to a westerner) a woman's blouse. It's sleeveless, has a very large collar, different African animals embroidered on the bodice, and side slits. With this he was proudly wearing a pair of the Gloria Vanderbilt blue jeans cinched in with his Barack Obama holographic belt. He was quite a sight!
It was very high fashion indeed! I hope he left something for his wife to wear.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Complacency
Well here I am, living yet another day in paradise...... The weather was absolutely beautiful today. The rains have turned my yard, and surrounding enviorns, into a lush carpet of green filled with birds of all shapes and sizes singing from dawn to dusk. The golf course now has impala, and zebra, and at nite it isn't unusual to see a large owl keeping watch over my yard, perched atop the fencepost.
Some say the Great Rift Valley was where human life began on this planet, with Broken Hill being the site of some of the oldest known human-like remains. (Broken hill is named after the old Broken Hill Mine - in Kabwe, just outside Lusaka) After living here over three years I tend to agree that yes, the Garden of Eden, if it indeed exists/existed is/was located somewhere in or very near to Zambia.
Life is old here, and in some ways still very simple. The earth still provides bananas, plantains, mangos, papayas, guavas, casavas, all growing wild for the taking. Time is fluid, and not given great importance. Most people 20 years old or older cannot give you their birthdate, or birth year with any certainty - they just make a stab at how old they think they are, and pick a date that they like. Here there seems to be overwhelming support for the old addage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," or even if it is, don't rush into action - let things work themselves out.
I read today that it is important to keep a sense of challange in your life - here that seems to me to be especially true. It is all too easy to slip into the place of living with perfect weather, pleniful food, shelter, etc. and become an unthinking mass of inactivity.
Some say the Great Rift Valley was where human life began on this planet, with Broken Hill being the site of some of the oldest known human-like remains. (Broken hill is named after the old Broken Hill Mine - in Kabwe, just outside Lusaka) After living here over three years I tend to agree that yes, the Garden of Eden, if it indeed exists/existed is/was located somewhere in or very near to Zambia.
Life is old here, and in some ways still very simple. The earth still provides bananas, plantains, mangos, papayas, guavas, casavas, all growing wild for the taking. Time is fluid, and not given great importance. Most people 20 years old or older cannot give you their birthdate, or birth year with any certainty - they just make a stab at how old they think they are, and pick a date that they like. Here there seems to be overwhelming support for the old addage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," or even if it is, don't rush into action - let things work themselves out.
I read today that it is important to keep a sense of challange in your life - here that seems to me to be especially true. It is all too easy to slip into the place of living with perfect weather, pleniful food, shelter, etc. and become an unthinking mass of inactivity.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
The Last Day of 2009
It is 4pm on the last day of the year 2009, and all is well at house 204. The sun is slanting though a slow build up of gathering clouds, and flooding my varanda with honey colored sunlight causing the leaves of the potted plants to cast glorious shadows on each other and the polished concrete floor. It's the time of day I have always loved best - artists call it the "golden hour" , that time when the sky is full of magic, and everything is colored by a warm blanket of golden light that leaves long delicious shadows, and makes one want to linger so as to soak up every bit of the enchanted atmosphere.
I have told Benson he can go home, but he lingers on, saying he wants to finish pulling a few weeds in the vegetable garden. I think he too senses the magic in the air, and wants to sit quietly pulling weeds as he breathes in the pervading sense that all is well in the world at least at this time and in this place.
The rainy season has come with it's daily rain, and clashing thunder. It has caused my yard to spring to life, and sing at the top of it's lungs. Everywhere are brightly colored flowers, and the trees, and bushes are exploding with new life. Benson claims the rain carries not just a source of water, but food to them. He calls it "food water".
I am so blessed to be here at this time, in this place. John and I are healthy and happy, as are our kids, and grandkids. We have everything we need, and most of what we want. We are so thankful for our many, many blessings. We wish you the very best of New Years, and that you, and all your loved ones enjoy health, wealth, and happiness in the comming new year.
I have told Benson he can go home, but he lingers on, saying he wants to finish pulling a few weeds in the vegetable garden. I think he too senses the magic in the air, and wants to sit quietly pulling weeds as he breathes in the pervading sense that all is well in the world at least at this time and in this place.
The rainy season has come with it's daily rain, and clashing thunder. It has caused my yard to spring to life, and sing at the top of it's lungs. Everywhere are brightly colored flowers, and the trees, and bushes are exploding with new life. Benson claims the rain carries not just a source of water, but food to them. He calls it "food water".
I am so blessed to be here at this time, in this place. John and I are healthy and happy, as are our kids, and grandkids. We have everything we need, and most of what we want. We are so thankful for our many, many blessings. We wish you the very best of New Years, and that you, and all your loved ones enjoy health, wealth, and happiness in the comming new year.
Monday, October 19, 2009
The Meaning of Life
Life seems to me to be all about regeneration, replication, passing the torch so to speak. Every living thing seems to have one basic aim, replication. When you really stop to think about it, it's the basic engineering aim of every living thing from the smallest plant, to the largest animal. It's all about making sure that the spark of life is preserved, passed on to live yet another life. Basically everything boils down to that. We are all just flowers in God's garden. Something pretty to amuse him. Maybe a weed to be pulled. Here today, and gone tomorrow, but leaving our seeds behind to flower next spring. No more and no less.
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