Got an sms from Brian. Says, “Just saw a lion and a big bull elephant though not as . . . .” For the sake of discretion, I won’t include what else he wrote to finish out that sentence.

    Brian’s off on another adventure.

    My feelings? Joy with skittles on top. It’s kind of like on Survivor where two of the players gets a reward trip. And your stuck back at the camp. I mean – I’m happy for him. I’m glad he gets to go out and sleep in the huts, or hang out with the Africans teaching or – like now, he is down in . . . yes, my all-time favorite part of Africa: Maasailand.

            I’m happy for him. Really. Oh, did I say that twice? It’s just that what am I supposed to write back? So far – nothing. Maybe I could say that all is fine and dandy here. The grass is still growing. I think it made up an 1/8th of an inch today. We had mashed potatoes again with our dinner. Mashed them myself. There’s yet another brilliant sunset just outside the window right now. The clouds are catching the evening’s colors. They display violet, pink and even a deep, deep purple as if it wasn’t difficult to do. Nearly the same exact colors I saw this morning when the sun rose around 6 a.m.

            And here we are – 12 hours later. It’s time for it to set again. Not much has changed in the course of the day. We did some school. Some work. Some cooking. Some exercise. Some study. Some visiting with others. The kids are downstairs playing their famous “I’ll lock you out of the house” game as I type. I think it’s Jordan who is locked out right now because I hear growling. And I don’t think any of the girls usually growl.

            At least they are content and have adapted to Africa. It’s so unlike what I knew growing up in America. I’m happy for the kids. Somehow they manage to survive without all of the friends, parties, activities, athletics, food and conveniences that I depended on so much as I grew up. They pretty much just have each other. And me. And Brian, when he’s home.

            In fact, on a continued thought, I think it’s even easier for them than me since we’ve been here so long and this is pretty much all they now know. They don’t have the comparisons that I do. Or the habits. I’m probably the only one who ever wants to go home.

            Brian is usually out and about, and he loves it. And I’m grateful to have a husband who loves what he does. As far as the kids go, they are now Kenyan. And well, like I said – the grass grew an 1/8 of an inch today. We got some cut grass put on the old kibanda as well. Two guys spent the day tying it on. It was fun to watch. For a minute. A friend of mine got sick today, too. I helped her with some medicine. She plans to stop in tomorrow for a good African visit. I’ll make chai. We’ll chat. It will be good. I have never spent an afternoon with a Kenyan that I didn’t enjoy it.

            But that’s tomorrow.

            And this is now. The security lights just flickered on down near the garden. Another day is gone.