Four Letter Words

Admittedly the best 4-letter word is LOVE, but for me a close second is NANA. My heart melts when I hear those little footsteps in the morning padding down the hall with that little voice calling calling, "Nana, Nana, where are you?" I'm on Day 7 (Day 4 on my own) of staying with Briggs and Haddie, and every day is a new discovery of how incredible Nanahood can be.

• Haddie (2) asking for tickles and then directing me how to tickle and what to tickle next
• Briggs singing "My Country 'Tis Of Thee" (how many adults know the words?) or "Ode to Joy" while he is in his room supposedly taking a nap and Haddie in her room singing "Cheese Like a River"
• Slipping my jeans off as I get ready to take a nap and having Haddie ask, "Nana, do you have to go potty?"
• Listening to both of them recite all the sounds of the alphabet
• Watching them soak up Disneyland (yep, I was pretty tired after that one)
• Sharing an ice cream sundae out and watching Haddie wipe off the table when she spilled
• Telling me "Good job, Nana" when I finished dressing myself
• Having them ask, "Nana, hold me" (almost as good as having my hubbie ask me)
• Hearing them pray before meals and at bedtime

The main downside of living overseas is missing all these moments which happen many times every day. I have honestly been worried the kids wouldn't remember me between visits. But, boy, was it special when I got off the plane to see them running towards me each holding a pink rose and yelling, "It's Nana!" To all my peers who live close to their grandchildren, I am truly jealous.

Memories flood back as I watch these little munchkins and see snatches of familiarity of my own children at that age. How could 25 years have flown by so quickly? And isn't it remarkable how the traits their parents had at that age (both good and bad, I might add) perpetuate into the next generation. Perhaps the second most rewarding thing about Nanahood is watching your adult children raise their children with those values you held the highest. Things you wondered if they would ever really "get" but hoped would stick---a love for God and family, the need for loving discipline, demonstrating good manners, caring about others. It makes me realize God's faithfulness in spite of all my shortcomings. My "quiver" is truly full.

Life's Bonuses

While cleaning out our office today, I came across a notebook I used to record info for our house in Washington. In thumbing through it, I found this poem I had scribbled down last summer. Prior to our move to Angola, I had traveled through Texas, Missouri, California, and Washington. I was able to visit with over 50 friends I have collected over the years, beginning with college roomies in 1967. What a joy that was since I hadn't seen a couple of them in 35 years! (We really must do reunions more often!) It seems like I have had many lifetimes, each with their own distinct memories. I have valued your friendships, although it's impossible to capture the emotions of having such special friends. To you, my friends . . .

Through miles
And years
Through smiles
And tears
All these we have traveled together

Through loss
And gain
Through joy
And pain
These too we have traveled together

Through death
And birth
Through grief
And mirth
We also have traveled together

Once young
Now old
Once timid
Now bold
We have steadily traveled together

Years come
Years go
Some fast
Some slow
But still we have traveled together

Such treasures
I keep
Both awake
Or asleep
Knowing we’ve traveled together

Though our paths
Often part
You’re still close
To my heart
Ever grateful we’ve traveled together

Shopping ------ Luanda Style

Driving around Luanda gives a whole new meaning to window shopping. Sometimes I get whiplash trying to take in all the "sideshows" of vendors pedaling their wares. I'm not so sure we haven't run over the toes of a few of them as they wound their way in and out through the maze of cars. There are some fantastic photo ops, if you dare. The other amazing thing is seeing the women who balance a plastic tub on their head with a baby tied onto their back. I'm determined to get a good photo of one of them. (This photo was taken by one of the other expats.) It's not actually safe to roll down your window in the traffic. So we just look.


Eggs by the crate, glasses for eight
Clocks and locks, and fancy socks
Mops and brooms, shelves for rooms
Tables and chairs, onions and pears
Plastic flowers and eggs, newspapers and pegs
Bracelets and papers, math calculators
Wallets and panties, bug spray for “anties”
Fabric by the meter, a cool fan or heater
Toothbrushes and maps, soccer balls, caps
Remote controls and polish for toes
Doormats and floor mats, carpets and hats
Stereos for cars, hangers and bars
Perfume to wear, combs for your hair
Shoe racks and boards, screwdrivers and cords
Feather dusters and pens, and even live hens
Kleenex and wheels, all kinds of deals
Umbrellas and blades, charcoal and shades
Popcorn and pots, rope to make knots
Eyeglasses and drainers, ice cream and strainers
Curtains with rods, gym shorts for bods
Rulers and keys, and cell batteries
Hoses, suitcases, CDs and shoelaces
A complete set of dishes, all kinds of fishes
Petrol for your car, bikes to go far
Utensils to cook--- do you just want to look?
These things I have seen on the streets where we live
You can buy anything if the kwanzas you’ll give
Forget the small shops or browsing the mall
By drving the streets you’ll, no doubt, have a ball.

The Law of Gravity

I do believe I have come across a corollary for Newton's theory: Living below the equator creates a higher degree of gravity pull downwards on the body. (If this proves to be true, I’ll be checking out a location above the equator.) Makes sense, right? I’ve heard the South Pole has a dynamite magnetic force. How else could you possibly explain weight gain here? Despite regular attempts at exercise and fairly healthy eating, the old bod seems to have a stubbornness that resists shedding. I thought perhaps because the food labels here don't contain a calorie count, that perhaps they didn't. Or that when the label isn't written in English, English speakers aren’t affected by the content. Or if I couldn't convert the intake from kilograms to pounds, then kgs didn’t affect my weight gain or loss. I know it couldn’t possibly be the fact that there are tons of business and social dinners, sundowners, and parties. Something must be wrong in my logic, but I can’t figure out what. I play tennis, do pilates, work out on the elliptical machine—seemingly to no avail. Hmmm . . . maybe it’s something in the water. Hadn’t thought of that. Maybe I’m on to something here.

The Sound of Music

If you recall, Indonesia was the land of karaoke. Invariably, after the speeches and presentations ended, the silver mike was brought out, and everyone, no matter what his voice sounded like, was entitled to time on center stage. One Christmas, Allan and I even rendered our version of the familiar carol, which we called “Jungle Bells.” It’s a different story here in Angola----party central. They crank it up almost every Friday, Saturday, or Sunday night starting around 8 p.m., and it doesn’t let up ‘til sun up, usually around 6 a.m. And as The Seuss would say, “Oh the noise, oh the noise, oh the noise, noise, noise, noise!” Now if we can hear the music three or four blocks away, think what it’s like for my friend who lives across the street from the park! Sometimes putting a pillow over our heads helps, at least until we fall asleep. Tell me, who can dance that long? Or how can they leave the party with their hearing in tact? On a brighter note, I have had the opportunity to participate in the music at the International church where we attend. It’s a joy to watch the Africans worship! No holds barred. They sing contemporary Christian music, as well as songs that were contemporary 10 years ago, in addition to crooning some of the hymns of the faith. By the way, we found the hymnals that the First Baptist Church of Huntsville, Texas, discarded 30 years ago! I get to be the “hymn leader” two times a month and to sing in duets, quartets, and even a solo. The hymns sound great a cappella, which I much prefer to times when the band jumps in and pounds out the Salvation Army one-two, one-two count. Who would have thought I would be leading worship in Africa????

Who Knows Where the Time Goes?

I sing these lyrics from Enya's song. Who would have thought that once I quit work I would have no time on my hands? Although my schedule varies from week to week, normally it is filled with so many activities that I can't fit them all in. Normal weekly activities: Portuguese class (twice weekly), ladies' Bible study, canasta, tennis, and volunteering at the local high school. Normal monthly activities: American Women's Association of Angola, International Cooking Club, ladies' fellowship at church, TICA (The International Club of Angola formed to fund charities), a Chevron BBQ, and a Spouses' Coffee. Mix in business dinners, social dinners, teas, and pre-assignment visits and orientation for new families (we've had 24 new families come in the past year). I can't tell you how often I've gotten my days and meetings mixed up. I usually check with my friend Amy to check my plans for the day. Gosh, it's the pits getting older! Allan and I find it a treat to be home one night on the weekends. I'm not complaining--really. You know me. I love to be busy. And the wonderful part of it is that I can choose what I want to do. There are so many opportunities here to be involved with the Angolan people, and the needs here are greater than you can imagine. We consider it a gift to be here and find ways to make a difference.

How do you spell C-O-N-G-E-S-T-I-O-N?

Luanda traffic! The current population of Luanda is around 3-4 million people, although the city was built to accommodate 300,000-400,000. Magnify this by more people driving than know how, a small handful of traffic signals throughout the entire city, double-parked cars due to insufficient parking places, terrible road conditions, and random road closings where the entire street has been dug up overnight. So it is not uncommon to be in the car most of the day. Allow 30 minutes to an hour for a normal 10 minute drive. The best by-product is that I have done more reading here than I have done in the past 10 years! (Don't worry--I'm not driving the car! We must have a driver for security reasons. Plus, there is NO way I would ever venture out to drive in this traffic.)