Leaping lizards! Or lucky lizards perhaps. Or thank goodness it was only a lizard. And since we participated in a delicious American-Canadian Thanksgiving potluck yesterday I guess it is only fitting to reflect on the things we have to be thankful for this week.
As for the lizard, some days start off weird, and then they get, well, better. As much as I like those little mosquito-eating geckos, I have to say, I didn’t really appreciate the baby one that leapt off the coffee canister as I reached for it this morning. I guess this is a precursor of creepy crawlies to come as the rainy season approaches. There seems to be all manner of new insect life manifesting itself. We are thankful relatively few of them have shown up in our house and hoping it stays that way.
For the first time since we arrived here we set off with our Saturday shopping list and managed to find every single item, or at least a reasonable facsimile thereof. The tape we found wasn’t quite duct tape, but it looks like it might do the job we have in mind. And now as we bask in the pleasure of this small victory there appear to be rain clouds on the horizon and headed this way. The breeze is picking up; the temperature will soon drop either from the rain or sunset, how lovely. We are thankful.
Other happy events this week included the return of the "green beastie", Jen’s car, which has spent more time in the garage than out. The beastie has been an ongoing source of anxiety, humour and frustration. This time it came home after a major overhaul, and many kwacha drained from Jen’ bank account, sounding much healthier than it ever has. Of course it then promptly lost the side-view mirror, dangling precariously by a wire, as Jen tried to drive and keep it from disappearing altogether. The good news is the mechanic was very surprised to see her back so soon. He made the repair immediately and without charge. Yes, it has been a week of small victories.
Jean-Marcel’s birthday dinner also went well and the staff members who got to share the remains of the carrot cake on Friday were pretty happy. Then since J-M had volunteered to bake his own birthday cake, it was only fitting that he fell in love with a painting at the WESM arts festival this weekend: the perfect birthday gift and a wonderful addition to our collection.
But most of all, the kind greetings from family and friends over these past two birthday weeks remind us of what is really important in life, and for this we are truly thankful.
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