Riddle me this (8)

God laughs while we run around like headless chicken, knowing not why we run,  whence we come from and to where we go. 

Today, I almost got trapped in a habit that I am trying to wean myself off of. It's those endless arguments on social media. I am fully aware of the falsehood of people's presentations online (including this note, for it only shows a fraction of who I am).

However, I still get enthralled in these conversations. I get consumed  by the need to read people's opinion of my opinion. Yet, I know that these argumuents are won by the arriculation of one's script, and not, necessarily, by authenticity. It's similar to how, in a oral arguments the loudest voice wins, not the most truthful. Does truth really matter? Why must it be accompanied by volume, drama and eloquence for it to stand?

As if You were toying with me, I ended the day by watching a play that dwells on the riddle of truth (or truth of riddle?). 

A man moves to a town with his wife and, later his mother-in-law. The mother-in-law and her daughter are prohibited from seeing each other, which causes much speculation and gossip amongst the locals. 

One story is that the wife died years ago, driving the mother insane. The man re-married a different woman, but he and his second wife pretend that the wife is the mother's daughter. Apparently, this calms the mother.

The second story is that the man's overwhelming passion drove his wife mad. The wife is taken to an asylum, leaving a distraught husband who, eventually,  believes she is dead. The wife is cured and returns. However, the husband refuses to acknowledge her. Family and friends create a farce which results in a second wedding (to the same woman). The end is as messy as the rest of it. You are left to choose your truth, and as long as it gives you peace, settle with it.

God laughs indeed.

Ecclesiastes chapter 1, The Message

16-18 I said to myself, “I know more and I’m wiser than anyone before me in Jerusalem. I’ve stockpiled wisdom and knowledge.” What I’ve finally concluded is that so-called wisdom and knowledge are mindless and witless—nothing but spitting into the wind. Much learning earns you much trouble. The more you know, the more you hurt.

It's electric! (7)

Today's Daddy's birthday! Sixty Five and he's in a different country every week! He broke his arm a few weeks ago but still managed to sneak in a trip to Ohio via Dubai. I still wonder how he signed immigration forms with a broken right arm. He is right handed. 

When I was doing my undergrad, he swore that as soon as I graduate and get a job, he would retire. "I cannot sit through the same interviews as you!" He just got a new job this year :-) and I would never ever be able to compete against him for that position.

Electricity meters by various inventors (Courtesy of the Smithsonian Museum of American History)

In honour of all things Daddy, I visited the  Museum of American History. He loves history, the study of electricity and electric cars. They had an interesting display on the development of electricity in the US.

There were electric cars in 1904! (Courtesy of Smithsonian Museum of American History)

I called home to wish him a happy birthday. Apparently, mum had a dinner date planned :-) ♡♡♡ *electric*

I was glad.

Long live the man who never stops living [and his young-at-heart Madame]!!

Daddy (6)

I heard pride, in your unique way, for the first time in a while. It is mostly my fault that I haven't heard from you as often as I should. I need to call more often.

Your voice took me back to a Sunday afternoon in January 1999. It was a good day for several reasons. It was my 12th birthday. It was also the date of the confirmation of my faith in Christ and membership of the Anglican Church. 

However, I remembered this day because you were smiling. It was the day my PLE results were released. You were celebrating the fact that my name was on the list of top performers on the front page of the local daily. You were happy and proud.

There have been other moments of happy pride but, for some reason your voice made me feel like I was 12 again. You made me happy.

I was glad.

People (5)

I am unaccustomed to being spoilt by others so much that I used to be suspicious and almost hostile towards people who tried to do so. Of course this was a private struggle. I do not speak often, so my hostility, and resulting silence, could have been read by others as timidity or frigidness, depending on what you were trying to achieve. People rarely seem to mean what they say, fuelling my decision to distrust them, especially when they are too nice. 

I find myself living in an establishment filled with nice people and, surprisingly, I m not suspicious! They open the door for you, chat with you and wish you a good day. They notice your clothes and hair. They offer to turn your bed down before you sleep while leaving a few chocolate slabs on your pillow. They may be paid to do it but they do it with so much grace and happiness. I have paid more and been treated worse in other places. So, today, I thank God for these small favours on the days when being away from home hits me harder than usual.

I am glad that you chose to spoil me everyday, for the rest of your days. 

See you soon

Shopping! Shopping! Shopping! (4)

I love flea markets! I could spend hours  shopping for household items! Even when I don't have a house to take it to :-) 

Today I was extremely lazy and over ate, which made me even lazier. I had actually snuggled into bed and covered my head, ready to let the day go. Then you convinced me to trek across town to the market. I knew you would not be happy knowing I was sleeping in on such a beautiful day. I was glad I got up.

I am lucky that at home I don't have flea markets this extensive every weekend. I would be so broke! I'm used to the farmers' fresh produce, jewellery and little trinkets. But the mirrors and furniture were awesome.  It's not the easiest thing to find a carpenter you can trust in Kampala! This was so much better than browsing through overpriced furniture stores.

So, later, I thought I would try a movie. I chose to walk back to China town (I get to see more that way) and bumped into a botanical garden!

The movie was meh. 4 things were confirmed though; American small is not small, pee before a 2 hour + movie, I am definitely not thrilled by action movies and I made the right decision when I chose not to do medicine. To console myself, I indulged in Haagen-Dazs. Life was good again. 

You are my sunshine (3)

Today, I am grateful for adventure and for a solid pair of feet that can take me places. 

You made me smile today. Before I was fully awake, you were on my mind. We walked together, you and I. We shared our special moments.

Somehow we ended up in Chinatown, complete with the Chinese road signs and a bridge!

We giggled together as I stared at the horse show. I watched as horses were bathed, received manicures and had their hair braided. Who knew horses had such intense beauty treatment!

We got lost together, which was a little embarrassing. But when we ended up in an amazing gallery of masterpieces. The confusion was soon forgotten. I realised that I like floral pieces and detailed landscapes. I spent more time in the Spanish and French rooms than anywhere else. This was my favourite piece.

You made the light shine and warmed my heart. You opened my eyes to the beauty that surrounds me. You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.

Sunshine, Soup and Salaam Bombay! (2)

The sun came out today. I think it has a psychological effect on people. There were more smiles and how-do-you-dos. Or maybe it was because it was Friday.

I was out for a while and had lunch in the sun. The perfect mix of salad and soup. The order had my name on it, as if it had been sitting their waiting for me all morning. I still wonder how they got the soup to be so creamy without using dairy.

Then I spoke to him and was inspired to go Indian for the night. Goat curry, basmati, garlic naan and mango lassi are a good way to end the day.

And I get to rest my eyes here...

Smoothies, Parliaments and Emails (1)

Today I walked 25 minutes to a Smoothie King. I was introduced to some sort of berry punch. Happiness in a cup (without the guilt of hot chocolate or the bitterness of coffee)!

I was glad.

I walked through the home of the American experiment of democracy. This is a place where the government of the USA is tested and tried. Here they wrestle with truth/laws/pain/dream/fear/hope... I am a sceptic of the US foreign policy. But I will give them credit. They're doing a good job of looking after their own. Something we could learn from them...

I talked to her today. We had a conversation across time and space. In her darkness and my sunshine, we shared a joke about professors and French. She asked me to pick something for her from the store. We talked about the old dog who runs our house (he's a real dog and we are terrified of him).

I was glad.

An introvert's wedding

A wedding is the celebration of marriage, the most intimate of relationships. I do not believe that it should be a show, or that I must parade myself infront of spectators. I would invite only the closest and dearest of friends.

If I could, I would arrange for it to be at a familiar venue, my parents' house or his, or perhaps a friend or relative with enough room to entertain 100 guests. The decor would be 'silent', blending into the background, not making a 'statement'.

Since I am fiercely loyal and struggle to meet new people, I would only use service providers I already know. I would get weary with having to interview so many caterers and decorators for weeks only to wind up with the first person I met.

You may hear of my marriage but not hear of the wedding date. I will not broadcast it. If anything, I wish we did not have to announce our bans in as public a place as the sunday morning church service!

NO WEDDING MEETINGS! I will only invite the number of people that I know I can cater for. That's just additonal uncomfortable interaction with people that I do not need.

While I appreciate the need to celebrate, I must let you know that, for me, intimacy is key. I love him and he loves me. Let that be the theme and topic of the day, not the food, or the venue or the booze (or lack thereof).
I dont think I need a polished wedding speech in order to communicate that. If I do not mention you in my speech, do not be offended.Today is not about recognising you. Let me be happy, my way.