Icarus @ 59 # 96

Look who came to dinner, yay the boy is back. After a 50 hour or more journey, 9 hours by bus and the rest by two flights he is back hogging my sofa. I would be lying if I said I didn't miss him, of course I did that is normal. But to see him come back after such an amazing experience, just before he goes off again (USA and Australia beckon) isn't it great to see them growing up and on and away... yay, I say to that. I remember my sister Debbie telling me about her son Josh going off to Thailand to work on a charity building project, Dan has been in Africa working for Medicare (in a hospital and orphanage), life experiences are about experiencing life. Long may these boys continue to care about what goes on around the world. I have heard it referred to as middle class tourism, but sod them who say that; if one in every hundred kids who do these things go on to do more then surely that is a result? Besides, the world needs good people, rather this than the Bullingdon Club I say. Yay, Dan, good to have you return telling me you want to go back and do good things. I am already proud of that fact. All I can offer is the usual Africanism of Angelou and the Ladysmith boys, but hey, I have my thoughts...

Africa

Thus she had lain
sugercane sweet
deserts her hair
golden her feet
mountains her breasts
two Niles her tears.
Thus she has lain
Black through the years.

Over the white seas
rime white and cold
brigands ungentled
icicle bold
took her young daughters
sold her strong sons
churched her with Jesus
bled her with guns.
Thus she has lain.

Now she is rising
remember her pain
remember the losses
her screams loud and vain
remember her riches
her history slain
now she is striding
although she has lain.

by Maya Angelou