Flying by, flying high

Not only are we into the second half of the year but we are more than a month into it. Where has all the time gone? I find it hard to believe that it was more than a year ago that I arrived in Tanzania ready to start into a whole new adventure in my life. And it’s been quite the adventure over the past 14 months or so. It’s not to say that it hasn’t been hard at times and I’ve cried more often over the last year that I should probably admit to but those times became fewer and fewer as time went on and I became accustomed to my new life.

Being at home for the two weeks at the end of July was exactly what I needed right now. I’m finding it harder to settle back in my last 10 months in Africa than I thought I would. I think maybe that two weeks just wasn’t long enough to fit in everything I wanted to do while I was at home and I find myself craving more time with my family and friends. I only went shopping for clothes twice in my time at home, something that I regretted last night when I discovered the underwire working its way out of my favourite bra. I was just too busy enjoying the company of others to bother with things like that and of course I helping my sister start her bridal planning. Well, not really but she announced that if I wasn’t going to be there for the rest of the year I might as well try on dresses now so she could see what looked good and what didn’t. I did fit in some sneaky ring shopping with her too while her fiancé was at work. I’ve never seen so many diamond rings up close and personal. It was quite the education.

There were also relatives to visit, 30th birthdays to celebrate, belated engagement congratulations to pass on, leaving drinks to buy for brainy friends off to attend Stanford, sadly funerals to attend, dresses to be fitted by my wonderful seamstress of a mother, operas to watch and listen to, lunches to eat, dinners to be savoured with both friends and family, walks by the sea to be enjoyed and so much more.

While I hope to make it home at Christmas this year it is not a given and I am going to savour the memories of this whirlwind trip home for as long as I can and to enjoy every moment that I have left on this African adventure. It’ll be over before I know it. And to start off the savouring I’m going to enjoy my work drinks this evening, not grump about them, and then go off sailing tomorrow afternoon for a few hours. Oh yes I am.