A lot has happened since I left for work Friday morning, and tonight (Sunday) I arrived home at just before 10pm, having been away all weekend. While I was driving home, the lyrics from "So Much to Say" popped into my head...
Friday Work: Baby T is a 7 month old male brought by his mom and Aunt who have trekked from Harare, Zimbabwe and have managed to make their way to Bara hoping, desperately to get medical care. He has a congenital heart defect, and was told the only hope for his survival was to get a heart operation, in SA. Inside the echo room, medicine was put on hold while, circles around Baby T, we listened to the absolutely nightmare conditions and quality of life that they experience in Zim. Forget what you might read in the papers or hear on the news (though there isn't much news coverage at this point given DRC, Obama, Economics), things are deplorable in Zim, and only hearing this first-hand account made it tangible how bad things are. The room was filled with a mixture of despair and anger. I ask you to please visit this web page (Thanks LR) and sign this petition: http://actnow-phr.org/campaign/zimbabwe?rk=XpeTF361rJatE
Friday Night: S&S generously hosted a going away party for a friend who works for the UN, and will be headed to Panama soon. It was a spectacular party, meeting great people from all over, but also being surrounded by many ex-pats from many countries. Having the chance to be surrounded by many people who have built their careers travelling away from home to help others is re-affirming.
Friday Late Night: The party winds down, with only a handful of us left, retiring to the patio couches and engaging in fairly deep conversation, as one would expect after that much wine.
Saturday, EARLY morning: S comments that the sun is coming up as he loads the dishwasher with the umpteenth load of wine glasses. The house is mostly put back together. I jokingly mention to the other S that our plan was to run Saturday morning, and he suggests we run, now. I say sure, thinking he'll cave, he doesn't. We decide to run before going to bed, and run for an hour and a half. Which isn't really recommended after drinking wine and eating all night. We see the sunrise of JHB.
Saturday, Brunch: S&S, myself, and the guest of honor from last night enjoy what will be the last meal together. It's a perfect afternoon (it was after 12noon), we sit outside for hours eating and discussing life, politics, travel, relationships, and gossiping.. When the second bottle of wine is gone, there is a group hesitation, realizing that the time has come to part ways, and wishing the guest of honor safe travels and continued journeys.
Sunday: I wake up expecting to have a cup of coffee and head home. After brunch I expect to head home. After an afternoon nap outside, I expect to head home. I end up at dinner with somebody from the party on Friday. I am finally on my way home.
And there is so much to say, so much to say, so much to say...
"So Much to Say"
Dave Matthews Band
I say my hell is the closet I'm stuck inside
Can't see the light
And my Heaven is a nice house in the sky
Got central heating, and I'm alright
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Can't see the light
Keep it locked up inside
Don't talk about it
T-t-talk about the weather
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Can't see the light
Open up my head and let me out, little baby
'Cause here we have been standing for a long, long time
Treading trodden trails for a long, long time
I say my hell is the closet I'm stuck inside
Can't see the light
And my Heaven is a nice house in the sky
Got central heating and I'm alright
'Cause here we have been standing for a long, long time
Treading trodden trails for a long, long time
Time, time, time, time, time, time
I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
Sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else
I see you young and soft, oh little baby
Little feet, little hands, little feet, little feet, little baby
One year of cryin' and the words creep up inside
Creep into your mind, yeah
So much to say, so much to say, so much to say, so much to say
So much to say, so much to say, so much to say, so much to say
'Cause here we have been standing for a long, long time
Treading trodden trails for a long, long time
Time, time, time, time, time, time
I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
Sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else
So much to say, so much to say, so much to say, so much to say
So much to say, so much to say, so much to say, so much to say
So much to say, so much to say, so much to say, so much to say
So much to say, so much to say, so much to say, so much to say
Open up my head and let me out, little baby
Can't see the light
And my Heaven is a nice house in the sky
Got central heating, and I'm alright
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Can't see the light
Keep it locked up inside
Don't talk about it
T-t-talk about the weather
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Can't see the light
Open up my head and let me out, little baby
'Cause here we have been standing for a long, long time
Treading trodden trails for a long, long time
I say my hell is the closet I'm stuck inside
Can't see the light
And my Heaven is a nice house in the sky
Got central heating and I'm alright
'Cause here we have been standing for a long, long time
Treading trodden trails for a long, long time
Time, time, time, time, time, time
I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
Sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else
I see you young and soft, oh little baby
Little feet, little hands, little feet, little feet, little baby
One year of cryin' and the words creep up inside
Creep into your mind, yeah
So much to say, so much to say, so much to say, so much to say
So much to say, so much to say, so much to say, so much to say
'Cause here we have been standing for a long, long time
Treading trodden trails for a long, long time
Time, time, time, time, time, time
I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
Sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else
So much to say, so much to say, so much to say, so much to say
So much to say, so much to say, so much to say, so much to say
So much to say, so much to say, so much to say, so much to say
So much to say, so much to say, so much to say, so much to say
Open up my head and let me out, little baby
