On the last flight of our epic, almost month long journey from Cairo to Cape! I conclude the trip with much gratitude and stimulated senses.
So thankful that it was a relatively smooth trip, flights, luggage, accomodation, vehicles all cooperated well, big relief considering the number of different airports and flight connections we've made! I'm quite happy not to have to strip off belt and shoes and jacket in front of strangers at crowded baggage check lines for a while!
And still buzzing with all the sights and sounds of all the places we've been to. The monuments of the Eyptians, faithfulness of Ethiopians, zeal of the Tanzanians and their animals, the lovely South African cape!
If I have to choose a favourite amongst all our stops it probably would be the Safari in Serengeti. The surreal experience of being with the animals, the joyful singing of our guide and service crew and above all, the fun and company of our small nucleus family of 6.
This was V's sabbatical trip, one that he'd been planning for years, and had very much anticipated, and one which coincided very nicely with our 30th anniversary year. He's done all the heavy lifting for it, deciding on places to go, routes to take, where to sleep, food to eat, flight connections to make! It was arranged most meticulously for a travel in style and senses, and I'm truly blessed though I probably don't say it often enough!
So after 30 years, as the kids and a friendly South African baggage inspector have asked, what's the story?
Cairo to Cape is indeed apt for though there may be times when a continent or more separate us, whether physically or in perspectives, it's been helpful to share a common theme and direction. I think for me it's also taken many Cs ...
Company - being good company to one another, and growing the company of others, together. Common friends have nourished us though these may not be the same ones at the different seasons or chapters of life.
Colour - it's been colourful, lots of good days and tough ones, frayed tempers and misadventures, the fights and quarrels can be intense at times, they tend to start when we forget the needs of the other, or be excerbated by having to mind the needs of others. Often they start from anxieties - whether anxiety about things going awry or anxiety with family. Over time, these have been avenues to understand perspectives and thoughts better.
Communication - it's more than just words and knowing which love language to use helps. Understanding the moods, anticipating the reactions, appreciating the reasons for these. We still struggle a lot of this, saying little when we should say more, too much when we should say less.
Complementing more than just compromise - i think complementing each other's strengths and weaknesses have helped. Where V is loud and spontaneous, I'm quieter and more measured. Where he's adventurous and future focused, I'm more realistic and present. Where he's short fused, I'm more slow burning. Where he's instructive, I'm more implementing.
There are certainly many more reflevtions than these Cs and we're still working on them. Still learning and discovering from the countless others who've crossed the milestone before us and those who've coming after us.
Live, laugh, love as is often said, and perhaps a takeaway from the safari trip is to love, laugh, live and let live, entrusting all to God's grace and providence. With the new rhythm in my step and a new screensaver ear worm ...
Jambo, jambo Bwana
Habari gani
Mzuri sana
Wageni, mwakaribishwa
Chinny chinny, Hakuna Matata!!
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