Cooking lessons

I finished a book this morning called "29 Gifts" -- sentimental, easy reading but uplifting when you are in physical pain, as the author earnestly seeks gratitude while living with MS. I have been thinking all day on what I have to be grateful for, and who I can "gift", despite my limited interaction with human beings.

And yet, I can't help but wonder "why now?" Things were just starting to feel comfortable and almost easy in South Africa. I had exciting new opportunities; an offer to make healthy Mexican food at an outdoor organic market, the initiative to head up the Spanish conversation group, feeling really strong in my yoga practice, and a renewed energy at work. Schools had even started up again, and I was preparing for Sex Ed Part II to commence. (Did I mention the Part I lesson, which included 11 year-old girls asking me if it was okay to sleep with someone to prove they 'loved' them?)

All of the aforementioned activities have been put on indefinite hold and I am left with a gnawing restlessness. I understand the importance of slowing down and mindfulness -- don't get me wrong -- but why does it have to be forced upon me? And why now?

My best friend Heather and I have been scheming to take our annual friend-vacation together in December on my way back home, and I wonder how a half-leg cast will factor into the equation. I have decided to wait to purchase my final ticket home until I hear from the orthopedic surgeon next Thursday and find out if I need more surgery (please, God, no!).

In South Africa, especially the northern suburbs, populated by pockets the mostly-white-and-affluent, many people have live-in maids. In fact, many houses have domestic quarters, where gardeners and maids live full time. As ashamed as I feel admitting it, the lovely family I live with also have a maid named Mary, and for the past 6 months I have enjoyed the luxury of having my breakfast waiting for me, my clothes washed, ironed and folded daily and all the cleaning done for me. The past 5 days have afforded me the unforeseen opportunity of spending quite a bit of time with Mary. We have cooked together (me sitting with leg propped instructing and tasting, her doing the actual work) and while I feel incredibly privileged and uncomfortable being served in this way, I remain immensely grateful for her, my constant companion during long days at home. Now I am off to oversee another cooking lesson, as I prepare for a few friends and competitive game of Monopoly tonight.

PS: Two pictures, featuring: 1) Adorable kittens that have made me change my stubborn mind about cats and 2) Titled: An Image Never to be Seen Again.