Saturday, February 2, 2013

Home, the Final Frontier

As the star ship Voyager (a.k.a. Air France 791) leaves Senegal tonight, Saturday, for France and then on to the US (under a different number), at least two of those aboard will carry memories and tales of adventure back to the New World.  They will recall fondly their time in Africa in 2013 and also celebrate their return home to a place unmatched in the world.

Of course, memory fades with the passage of time.  So they will remember best the most recent.  They will still be able to taste the urchins, oysters, mussels, and escargot they had for lunch today.

One of them will fondle her new bracelet and still have a keen vision of the Taureg craftsman who made it along with her earrings.

They will remember the unpleasant things too.  Today’s walk to breakfast through the dirt, grime, and ever-growing litter on the streets.  The many beggars, both young and old, who seem to have no point in life and no hope for change.  And, the air pollution in Dakar.

But the good memories will drown out the bad eventually. They will see in their minds’ eyes the taxis with tails in Dakar and the beautifully dressed women. 

 

The inside of the dome and the stained glass at the Catholic church downtown will still amaze them.

 

 

Their lips will still savor the morning’s café Touba and the taste of a sandwich achee or an omlette fromage or a fresh beignet.  

 

They will still be able to feel the breeze off the Atlantic as they looked to the west sipping a cold Gazelle. 

 

And their ears will still ring with the voices of all the people who love America and want to go there some day or were there and want to share their memories.

Sandy and Terry will share these and their deeper memories with each other and with you as time goes by and they come to the surface.

Now, beam us home, Scottie!

Terry and Sandy