More Gaborone

Yesterday, I worked more on the short story. I have been working on it while Rachel has been at work. I posted part one yesterday. I am not sure if the rest of the story will be Parts Two and Three or Parts Two A and Two B. I noticed that Janiah’s voice changes quite a bit after the text from Damien. I am not sure how I feel about that, but here’s a link to Part One:

https://latonjab.wordpress.com/2016/10/28/following-janes-advice-part-one/

Last night, Rachel and I went to dinner with her friend George. We did a celebration dinner for her birthday, which was earlier this month.

Today, I braved the heat (and it is hot) to go to a couple of markets. I have a new appreciate for the phrase “Africa hot.” Rachel’s friend Tapiwa (question on spelling) came with us to the second one. After looking around, we sat and listened to live music played by Rachel’s friend Cedric from the other night.

Tonight, we went to hear more live music from her friend Cedric. It was a concert called the Summer of 79 and music was played from the 70s. It was cool and a great way to spend my last night in Botswana.

The band and singers were all excellent. They played everyone from David Bowie to Led Zeppelin to Pink Floyd to Toto. They played “We are Family,” and I immediately flash backed to childhood singing that song with my sisters with towels or shirts on our heads so we could swing hair. Fun times! Was reminded to “Hold the line…love isn’t always on time.”

The Toto song was cool because the original singer for the band was there and sang. He also sang another song that I don’t remember which one.

Perhaps the most special moment was a Prince tribute where they sang Purple Rain. Snaps fingers at memory. The song took me back to the two times I saw Prince. And remembered how it felt like I was intruding on an intimate moment as he made love to the guitar. Tears. I still can’t believe he is gone (shakes fist at 2016).

It was also fun to dance. I really need to go out dancing more at home. Whenever I do go, I am reminded how much fun I have doing it.

Tomorrow, I start the long journey home.

Gaborone Chronicles

I went to bed relatively early last night, but I woke up in the early morning because the fan was beeping because more water was needed. Long story short, I couldn’t get it closed. Rachel showed me the trick when she woke up, and I went back to sleep. I had some very bizarre dreams after that. One of them felt familiar, like I had had it before. I didn’t enjoy it the first time and this time was no better.

I woke up late and got organized. Then I went online. I was trying to go to this webpage that wanted me to sign into my Google account. Long story short, Google had my pictures! The only pictures missing are the ones I had taken the day my phone was stolen. I’m guessing because there was no internet sync. I was so happy.

I have a love hate relationship with technology. This is one of the times I love it. I had some videos clips to when I saw Guns N Roses that I was able to recover as well as some other random photos. Woohoo. And big kiss to the Google developers. I just need to go through and clean out the dud photos and then I will be able to download them into my Shutterfly account. Score! Doing happy dance.

Rachel and I went to hear her friend Cedric play at this restaurant. He played everything from Nirvana’s “Teen Spirit” to Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.: He sounded really good. We were joined by Rachel’s friend Oliver as well as his friend Barati.

I should mention in South Africa, I had conversation where people asked me about Trump and the same is true for Botswana. Fellow Americans, he is seen as a menace and that is not a good thing. It doesn’t make America strong and it does not make America “great.” I have joked about joining a priory if Trump is elected. I can spend the rest of my days praying before the apocalypse that I am sure will follow.

We had a really interesting conversation about what a good man. And I think the answer may differ from person to person based on their needs. I know for myself there are things I desire in a life partner, and I am always pleased when I discover people who are cut from that mold. It gives me hope.

When Oliver went off to chat with some friends, Rachel, Barati, and I talked more about relationships. Barati had a great line of “bringing the ovaries back.” We meet a guy, and we click and we are subconsciously beginning to plan the wedding without fully venting the person because our emotions become tangled.

Her uncle had sent her a Facebook meme that talks about how women are conditioned to think of marriage is an achievement but young men are not conditioned the same way. In the push and pressure to get married red flags are ignored.

Rachel was telling me that in Botswana you are not considered a “woman” until you have a child, which is bizarre. So I am 40 something and childless, so I am not a woman? Get the heck out of here.

I have been working on the short story. I want to press send before I leave. The way that it is working out is that it ends on a cliff hanger, but I got inspiration for the next segment this morning and evening.

 

Hello Gaborone, Botswana

I said a very sad goodbye to Cape Town this morning, but I must go back. I have a dinner date with Jasmin next time I am in town. She took me to the airport. I am very touched by all the wonderful people I met, and I am looking forward to paths crossing again whether there, Seattle or somewhere else in the world.

I flew Air Botswana to Gaborone. It was weird because everyone had their own seat. It was a small plane so I am guessing it was for balance. The smaller the plane, the edgier I get. My mind flashed back to a flight I had with my buddy, Randy. We had both transferred at the same airport to fly into Charleston. There were thundershowers, and we had three aborted landing tries. We ended up running low on fuel and the plane had to go to Savannah to refuel before returning to try again. Randy had switched seats with the person who was assigned to sit with me, and I was glad about it since I spent most of the flight clutching him for dear life. I don’t think a stranger would have appreciated it.

On the flight over, I noticed the changing landscape. There was an area that I noticed the clouds in the skies all had what looked like water underneath them. It was a nice mirage.

First of all, it is hot here. I am glad my doctor recommend I bring some Gatorade or Propel packets to mix with water. Electrolytes activate otherwise I will turn into a puddle of chocolate milk. I may have been a little lax in putting sunscreen on in Cape Town. I am showing signs of sun burn on my arms. It’s not too bad, but I will need to lather up for sure. And for some reason the bugs here like my insect repellent. Sigh.

Rachel picked me up, and on the way to her house, I saw a lot of goats. I mean a lot and some cows as well.

Rachel and I picked up her friend Felecia, and we went to a yacht club where Rachel and Felecia both ordered a meal. Unfortunately, the order was never put in and we had waited 45 minutes thinking they were just slow. After going to several stores and restaurants it is very clear that people aren’t in that much of a hurry to be of service. Maybe it’s the heat.

But while there we saw an amazing sunset. The picture below is courtesy of Rachel. A great sunset always reminds me of the lyrics of Pearl Jam’s Black. “I’m spinning how quick the sun can drop away.” The club deck overlooks what they call a dam, but seems more like a reservoir to me. Until last week, it had been quite low, and they are having a drought. But it rained and that did help some.

The stars are also very amazing here. I really need to invest in a nice telescope. I so miss stargazing.

We were listening to Hello by Adele on the way to the club, and we all agreed that this was the type of song that had you calling ex’s or ex’s calling you. It’s one of those songs that will have you wax nostalgic and yearning if you are not careful.

We also talked about traveling. It just seems like we are more open when we travel. Perhaps because we are not rushing off to do a, b, or c.

As my time in Gaborone starts, I am reminded of the words of Gandalf in The Two Towers. “One stage of your journey is over, another begins.”