California

It is a foggy Tuesday night in San Francisco.  I was just reflecting on the beautiful wedding I attended on Sunday afternoon.  The pictures I took will be able to give people a feeling for the day.   I felt a little out of place at this predominantly African and African/American wedding, but everyone went out of their way to make me feel comfortable.  I really can't write too much about it.  It was such a visual experience more than anything, so I will look forward to getting some pictures on Smug Mug when I get back home. (Your can see my pictures now at www.looknc.smugmug.com.)

Yesterday morning I had an opportunity to spend some time with Katherine and Jonah and some of their Kenyan friends.  They were all so warm, wonderful and interesting to talk with.  I really am looking forward to a trip to Africa soon.

After breakfast I drove to San Francisco and arrived safe and sound at the home of my good friend Madelyn, her husband Colin,  and their two sons Collie and Andrew.   This is yet another situation where I am out of my element.  Madelyn lives in a world of testosterone and Xbox games.  

Today I stole Madelyn away and we went on a road trip down the coast to Half Moon Bay and on to Santa Cruz.  Another visually stimulating experience.  

The highlight of our trip was stopping at the Pidgeon Point Light House. Madelyn had never stopped there, so it was a new experience for both of us. The Light House is beautiful but in need of restoration. The project is underway. A few steps beyond the lighthouse we walked down the steps into the embrace of the Pacific Ocean and all its glory. The sea air was so fresh and alive, wildlife was everywhere, the waves crashed below us on the rocks, flocks of Pelicans kept flying by us, and seals frolicked below in the foam. I was mesmerized by the sounds, sights and smells. My whole being took in the colors and textures of the water, sky and distant shoreline. So much to stimulate my senses. It was hard for us to leave that place.

Here it was easy to love what is.

Cynthia's Wedding

Yesterday I flew across the country to connect with some very special friends from the years I lived in Boston.   First I will be attending the wedding of Cynthia Ichoya the daughter of my dear African friend Katherine and her husband Jonah.  I met Katherine when she was in Boston attending the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, and we were both involved with The Hunger Project.  After the wedding I will spend a few days with Madelyn who I first met in Boston in 1980 and I have known all these years.  She has lived in San Francisco for over 20 years and married and has two sons.


Today is the day of the wedding and this morning I went to breakfast at the hotel in hopes of seeing Katherine and having our initial reunion now, so as not to distract from the wedding.  It had been more than 10 years since we saw one another.  I wondered if I would recognize her right away.  Well, I saw her from the back sitting at a table and I knew it was her!!!  We had a tearful reunion and the feeling I felt being embraced by this amazing African woman just made all the trials of traveling dissolve.   I knew at once why I had come and that this was were I was supposed to be at this moment.  She insisted on taking me to her room to surprise her husband Jonah.  Jonah picked me up and twirled me around in the air and had tears in his eyes as we hugged.   Katherine then brought me to her daughter Cynthia's room.  Cynthia is the bride today.  She is 26 and so beautiful.  I last saw her when she was about 14 years old.  After seeing Cynthia, Katherine had a gift for me.  She always comes bearing gifts from Africa.  This time it was a set of plates with Massai warriors painted on them. She has this way of making me feel like I am the most important person in the world.

So now I will get ready for the wedding celebration this afternoon.  I will frolick in the love, laughter and beauty of the people of Africa who have come from all over the world to celebrate Cynthia's wedding.  It is the marriage of a daughter of Africa and a son of African Americans.  I feel blessed and honored to be at this event.

Katherine said to me, "you have to come to our home in Zambia and also go to Kenya".  I said "yes, I am ready to come to Africa now.  It is time." And we both knew that it is the right time and it will happen soon.