Wednesday, September 15, 2010

The Long Goodbye


The first day of the rest of my life began at dawn in Nairobi after a long and blessedly uneventful trip. Actually, the bus never showed up in Woods Hole two days ago, but that was a minor problem. "Always we begin again..." (Thank you, St. Benedict.)

Kitchen staff members were up early today at the ACK Guest House, singing familiar hymns in Kiswahili as they chopped omelet vegetables into bite-sized bits. The jacaranda trees are in glorious lavender bloom. The people and the weather here are as sunny and warm as I remember -- and as sunny and warm as the people and the weather that I just left on Martha's Vineyard! I will feel forever grateful to be at home in both places.

This is a poignant visit to Kenya, however, since it is probably my last. My body is feeling its age, and shoulder surgery is pending in December, with months of PT to follow. It is the beginning of my own little long goodbye.

A beloved friend recently shared the words of her late parish priest, Father Gerry Barry. In response to the ever-present question, "What are we doing here on this earth?" he responded, "We are all walking each other home."

And so, dear family and friends on both sides of the pond, let us "begin again" to walk one another home -- here, in our flip-flops, there in your Rockports. With great love.

8 comments:

Nancy Rowe said...

Oh Dear Dianne......I hope the last stretch of the journey was a good one. I know all your friends in Maseno will be so happy to see you. Bless you....I hope you took some Thermacares with you! They helped my back when electricity was not available for heating pads. God bless you dear friend!

Kim said...

Glad you got there safely, Dee.

Dianne, Dee, Mom, Granny said...

Me, too! Thanks, Kim. XO to you all in sunny Hawaii. (You must have jacaranda trees, too!)

Anonymous said...

Sending love to you, Mom. What a whirlwind of travel for you recently. I'm so glad to know you're there safely. Love, Jen

Dianne, Dee, Mom, Granny said...

Asante, Jen! Heading off to rounds... Love to all of you from me and the monkeys!

Anonymous said...

Just got a chance to check your blog, and are very relieved to know you're safely back home in the other home. Life is such a whirlwind now, for some reason, so make the most of your time there, treasure every moment! And we'll do the same till we're back together again.
L&H&B, n & hs

Anonymous said...

Hi Mom,

Thinking of you and hope all is well! I'm glad you are soaking it all up and I hope your shoulder is behaving itself.

Love,
Kate

Dianne, Dee, Mom, Granny said...

Thanks, Kate! Love & miss you all... Hope the new office, new school year and new directions are going well!