Haidhuru

  • Ah but thy land is beautiful

    Posted: March 29, 2008, 3:37 am by Administrator

    And as I pack my bags, it strikes me how funny eight years can be seen in the contents of yet-to-labeled cartons, certificates summarizing where the thousands of dollars of grad school goodness went, hundreds of photos in shoe boxes and some in three albums. (And I still don’t know why I have those particular photos neatly stuck in those albums since there is no discernible theme, time period or reason to have grouped those photos together). There you see me outside Fort Jesus when I was six, there I am next to an Irish cow (literally- no insult intended for any of the lovely Irish lasses), three of us girls, in a typical diaspora bash in a what I now know, was but a faux-risque pose as I have seen that self same pose represented in the photo album of every woman, of a certain age and temperament..

    But as I look at those photos, I also feel a twinge because even as a sojourner, I see in these photos, moments stuck forever in time where I witnessed the generosity of strangers, broke bread with my American “in laws” , re-connected with my African “brothers and sisters” from Bujumbura and Lilongwe.

    I have dipped my fingers in the reflecting pool, seen and been moved by the rows and rows of names carved in the Vietnam memorial. I have seen the blue ridge mountains in a dying summer and been struck by the sheer majesty and beauty of this country.

    And as I walked on the windy observatory of the Empire State building, I’ve been inspired afresh as I saw the proof of what it means to be human. Our ability to dream, conceive and bring those dreams to life.

    And I see and are grateful for the water, or USDA beef that allows some alchemist women in this country, to give birth and raise sons that re-define what is to me, the epitome of supreme black wonderfulness (aka “His succulence”).

    So kwaheri y’all. It’s been real. I have nothing but love for this land and the people. I have learnt a lot, loved a lot, lost a lot but ultimately gained everything. Shukran and asante and thankee kindly for the lessons and the love. I may not have done it all my way (as it was mostly Uncle Sam’s way and Uncle Bill’s way…) but regrets? I have none.

    I’m out…

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