These days, I often find myself on the verge of tears.
When Chris revealed our lunch, it took my breath away. Or while Bianca read the menu selections, and when Jason welcomed us back to the hotel after a walk. Unplanned, unexplained, unadulterated tears.
In the beginning of our journey in South Africa, it would catch me by surprise – this sense of overwhelm. Now, I always have a tissue at the ready. Bill said he was having a similar experience this afternoon while having lunch. And it wasn’t his allergies. Nor the food.
This spontaneous confluence of relaxation, awe and gratitude catches us by surprise, overtakes and opens us. Compelling art, natural beauty, and the authentic spirit of local people, fill us with unbridled delight and makes us smile.
A young man behind the counter yesterday asked me where I was from. He then said, “Why don’t you come home?” I must have looked perplexed, or lost, because he repeated, “Come home. Come home.”
He had no idea that home and belonging were loaded concepts for me. I couldn’t answer. Then came the awkward tears – happy, mixed with a dose of sadness, loss and grief.
Being here has been an emotional journey – to be this close and yet so far. I can almost touch it, but “home” remains illusive and just beyond my reach.
You can tell that after just a few days of antibiotics, I am feeing much better. Bill has also rested, and we have resumed our itinerary with new vigor.
Today, we were with Oliver – our driver, for the 4th year, and spent the day at a farm/winery in Stellenbosch that we had heard a lot about but were still unfamiliar with.
It was great to see Oliver again. We had a great time. He considers us friends and has invited us to his home to meet his family and have a meal.