Yes Virginia Idealism Still Lives

Pretty Cool Shirt Huh?

It is an odd quirk of my nature that I can sit comfortably under the African sun and be perfectly content that it is 90 degrees, however 90 degrees in Boston is really quite a misery. I am irritable; I hate being grimy from sweat, and feel the closeness of the city. I suspect that is why it has taken me longer than I wanted to write this blog.

One Village at a Time is blessed with many people who believe in what we are doing. What is most gratifying is that I am the oldest member of this gang by at least 20 years and in some cases 40 years.  I remember being infused with politics and suckled by activism, it is indeed in my blood. This Baby Boomer age seems to think that we were the last of the breed. I wish my voice were louder to emphatically say no, but Boomers are still catching up to the web 2.0 age and are not big blog readers.

It has been such a fulfilling past week. Tiny Revolutionary.com, which is run by a friend of my daughter’s, put out the tee shirt, which will raise money for our work in Nambale. It’s a funny story actually. I went on their website to see what they made and was impressed with their idea of bringing kids up as socially conscious humans. I saw that they sponsored charities and wrote to the owner. After several emails back and forth, the owner said she would love to be part of One Village. It was only after I commented on her brown hair, which I remember as red that she actually connected the dots to my daughter. Breeanne (owner of Tiny Revolutionary) just wanted to help, and it didn’t matter whose mother I was. It’s a pretty spiffy tee and it comes in sizes from 3m-Adult XL.

At the same time I have been helping a couple of board members and another young woman plan their trip to Kenya. They are going over there to see what we do, and importantly they are doing it on their dime. That is no small commitment given the $1400 airfare alone. How wonderful it is to open up a world for these women, to help them know that they can really make a difference, that they are the change they want the world to be. I will not be going with them. This is their trip and as those of you who know me know, I follow my instincts. This is supposed to be seen and recorded by young eyes, and by young I mean the oldest is 29 and it goes down from there.

Spreading fairy dust seems to come with marvelously rich rewards. I suggest you try it.

I'm Feeling Tinkish

There was a song when I was in High School sung by the Kingston Trio. The first line went “They’re rioting in Africa” and it goes on to delineate all the troubles of the world. For those who are wondering the year was 1963. I have not written since the pork party because, frankly the news sucks. Although I am delighted to announce that the pork revelers did consume all 40 lbs. of the succulent meat.

The World Cup, which was supposed to bring people together, and how excited we, who work and live in Africa, were that it was held on African soil, became for me another tragedy when people were killed in Uganda just watching the game. I don’t know if I totally believe in terrorists per se, but I do know what hatred looks like. I have seen it up close and personal, so I was totally saddened by the massacre. And I wonder if we have become so numb to the tragedies that they just pass us by.

I know for several weeks I couldn't watch the news because I couldn't stand looking at all the oil sodden animals, and thinking of them dying. Now the news shouts that people have moved on from Haiti. It's sort of like the tragedy of the week. I am grateful for all those who stick by me and help me in Kenya, since it has been 9 years now, and believe it or not we haven' t solved the problem. 

I suspect I don’t have to do the entire litany of dreadful things happening, Arizona, Tea Party, Gulf War, Gulf Pollution…yeah on and on. So I was hoping that I could be like Tinkerbell and just spread some fairy dust around. I wish I could make it all go away, but that wouldn’t be God’s world. But I do feel very Tinkish right now.

It says on my message on my phone: “Courage Doesn’t Always Roar. Sometimes it is the quiet voice at the end of a day saying,” I will try again tomorrow”. So let’s all try.

And for those who want to hear the song here it is: