July 24, 2008

This entry must start out on a somber note. I know death is inevitable but often the weight of this fact, is more than I can bare. It hits hard here!!! Today I've left Touching Tiny Lives, sitting vigil over the most photographed little peice of love in my collections. It seems that as a collective entity, "we" are willing to send band AIDS in attempt to help a pandemic . There is no quick fix we must never feel "we" are doing enough. This little survivor has phnemonia and sits with an all too familiar oxygen tube in his nose. This little guy just truned one but must endure the horrific circumstances has was born into, which was preventable!! To have to provide liquids to this guy via a syringe yet see his strength as he smiles and laughs throughout the day is extraordinary. As I was holding him, he clenched the cross of the necklace I've worn for years. (In spite of recommendations to not have visible gold I knew my heart locket and cross ladden with generational faith and hope could not be left behind.) This image will forever be etched in my mind of a little hand on my chest grasping my cross for over an hour. I try now to allow this to provide hope to enter my saddened heart. Many tears and prayers poured out over this little light of hope. WHY? HOW? WHAT? The questions are numerous.
Previous to this visit, I went over to help an underpaid teacher, on school break, create shelves in her tiny school. As I did this I humourously had song lyrics in my head, they go like this: I work hard for no money, so hard for no money, I work hard for no money so you better treat me right. Mind you, these lyrics were not sung in a bitter or self rightous manner, just made me giggle, sometimes humour is unexplainable, what can I say. When we were finished this teacher gave a gracious hug. We talked about my Denni improvisational teaching workshop planned for the next week. She said, "I'll see you at 8" then laughed and said "basotho time". Pre-training forewarned me that punctuality isn't valued here so much. My teachers have not been this stereotype. 'me' said, "you work hard for us, we will keep time". Perfect, adding very much to my laughing lyrics. They do treat me right I must say, and I am oh so lucky.
As I speak of these fine teachers, many of you ask if there is anything that I need. 'Tis the season for cheap school supplies. If you can afford the flat rate shipping that starts at $37, crayons, pencils, glue, fiskars scissors, paints, 3 ring sheet protectors and folders with 3 prongs would be great. If not, no worries I have some super shoppers on the case.
Oh yeah, back at the end of June I spent some time with my Basotho family-check out the pics in my album on this blog page. Winter time is an exceptionally difficult time in Lesotho, yet in spite of this fact we all were able to come together for a wonderful visit!! I love and appreciate them so much and you will all be glad to know that when I get homesick, I can go to them for a quick fix!

Best to you, best to me, best to all of whom we see!!

Oh yeah, special appreciation to those of you that send me emails, they mean sooo much. Sorry that I do not often respond when I am posting on my blog. But you are loved and I am very grateful for your emails!