The Journey Inward

I dragged myself out of bed this morning, having gone to sleep at 2 am after my travels back home. I went grocery shopping to fill my fridge after the week away and then got my hair and nails done for the first time in country. I was very happy with both services and they were quite a bit cheaper here than at home!

I then went to my new friend’s house for tea. She unveiled a cake and said, “I knew you were coming so I baked a cake!” When I understood her reference and burst out laughing, she was so delighted!

I met Sue last Saturday as I was finishing up my walk in the neighborhood. She had her sister were standing in her garage and we said hello and I stopped and chatted with them for a bit. Sue is a widow with grown children in her late 60’s. She was thrilled to hear I was on my own and declared we would be good friends and do lots together. She told me she would show me all the best places to have tea as she’s lived here since 1977. She also said she’d help me car shop because she used to own a business in Pretoria and is bossy!!

We exchanged WhatsApp info and we kept in touch here and there during the week. When she sends me a voice message, she has a sing songy voice! It’s so cute!

We had such a nice time today and made plans to have tea out next weekend and she even is going to show my some nature reserves right close to where we live.

Sue was delighted I knew so much about Judaism and the holidays and she said she’s going to have me over for Passover in the Spring. She has two sweet dogs, too, which filled my dog mama heart!

Sidenote: my power went out today, so I texted the Saint Olympus chat group, but it turns out I was the only one. So many people wrote with advice. I tried everything and it eventually came on with my last effort after Sue’s, so I don’t know who had the best advice, but I was a happy camper to have power again after I had just bought all that food!

It’s nice to have good neighbors!