What changes a man.....
 |
| That's Jake on the left.... |
Well this week marks an auspicious occasion indeed; the graduation of my son Jake. It's at a time like this, a clear milestone, that you can't help but remember your own "after school" beginnings. In retrospect - my high school friends and social scene were the whole world as far as I was concerned. Everything I needed was there, much like a chick in an egg; all the ingredients for life conveniently self-contained. At the end of high school the egg cracks and the first peak of the new world is revealed. You start pecking away at this and that to break out of your shell to have a better look. My own adventures started off pretty wobbly as I hobbled from one view to the next. As my mother is fond of saying... "it's the people you meet and the books in read that make life interesting". And I did a lot of both those things... eventually the legs get stronger, the wings stronger and you take flight....
Jake is a really an exceptional young man. His calm mature demeanor is, and always has been well beyond his years. Young or old, poor or wealthy, black or white, big or small... it matters little to Jake, as he's truly sees people as just that - people. His ability to relate well to others and find the very best in every situation is indeed an enviable and admirable quality. With his unshakable smile, I can see him going into whatever new adventure await him with a curiosity and an attitude of gratitude that belies his years. I am immensely proud of both Jake and Stevie and love watching them both taking flight. This is indeed what changes a man.... for my son has become a man...and a gentleman at that!! Congratulations my son, I love you and couldn't be more proud.
The Ngong hills
The Ngong hills are a series of 5 knuckles and a ridge running along the Great rift Valley just outside of Nairobi. It was re-settled by many British who established farms along the base. It's pretty and a really nice 7 km trek. Occasionally Lions are spotted here but more often it the 2-legged predators that have to be avoided. For that reason - a gun or two should be brought along.The hills figure prominently in the 1985 film Out of Africa and in fact are the backdrop to the Karen Blixen farm. The hills are green most of the year but as you can see - they are particularly beautiful on the morning pictured above. The mist sat stubbornly on each knuckles as sun flooded the countryside.... as if daring us to uncover the secrets..
My good friend Florence arranged this trip and it was a a great success as usual. I like trekking more than serious hiking as it presents the opportunity to chat and discuss. Along on the hike was a mixture of folks from all over the world. The conversation was lively and thoroughly enjoyable.
I'm honestly not sure how I feel about the wind farm on the Ngong hills. While I am at heart genuinely concerned and participative in environmental initiatives that lesson out dependence on fossil fuel... these are just pain fugly. Like Birkenstocks, they send all the right signals but just never look right regardless of how you look at them. I saw the same in Spain a few years ago...and thought it a shame that the wonderful views are interrupted so savagely with these breeze monsters. I like them in Amsterdam where they fit with the interesting architecture and cityscape....and I know I should ease up....but again they are fugly. Visual pollution will be a big deal soon...I'm sure of it!!
 |
| The town of Ngong located near the spring of the same name. A very Typical East Africa town |
 |
| A couple of trekkers enjoying the view. Mostly - these are teachers volunteering.... from Belgium. |
After the trek we joined a big group at a country club for Nyama Choma. Traditionally meat and beer, it's served on a board or platter just as shown below. This started out earlier in the day as a goat (Mbuzi) and now....a feast!!! I am developing an appetite to eat goat but as of yet, unable to gobble it up with sheer delight in the way my fellow Kenyans do. Maybe someday.... and then again maybe not.Thanks for reading....Layno
