Nsaga. I'm back.

Turns out I have more time than I know to do with. So I will include yesterday's/this morning's news:

I came home from school last night, to be met by Rebecca half-way through the yard. She looked legitimately sad, and hurried to hug me. "My good friend is dead." Dang. We hugged for a bit, I apologized for awhile, and she said, "We found it strangled in the field."
I admit I was a bit put off that she referred to a good friend as "it." I took it as language barrier, considering I am a he and Hannington is a she all the time; pronouns matter little here. But I asked, nonetheless, "It?"
"Yes."
"A girl or a boy?"
"No.....the goat. My goat friend is dead."
Gosh, I laughed. And then had to explain myself for laughing; because surely her lips didn't budge to a smile. Laughter isn't always contagious.

Everyone was sad about the goat. Kid Martin barely looked at me, let alone wanted to chase each other through the grass again. Mom said, "We are all sad. It was terrifying, really. But after we prayed, we got over it."
So I don't yet understand why they think I'm weird for being attached to my dog. It's just a goat. Though I admit it was awkward watching Francis and Aida tear meat into separate buckets and bags to give to the neighbors, when just that morning I saw it standing, black and white, on a rock, eating grass. Poor mbuzi.

And Sara was there! At the scene of mourning. I haven't seen her since the second week. Shortly after her confirmation, she went to the village, because her mother was sick. It was so wonderful to see her again. (She didn't come to pay respects, by the way. Just coincidence, I think).

Lastly. Dear Aunt Sharon: thank Jenny for me.
On Thanksgiving, she filmed countless ridiculous videos. Videos where she had half of the inanimate objects in Grandma's living room come to life, attaching with them her own narration. Not to mention her fuzzy slippers that she videotaped nonstop, composing a song about their importance in her life. Last night, after watching "1o things I hate about you" with the family, I realized I had these videos on my computer.
So this morning at breakfast, Rebecca and I watched them. It was incredible. Crazy, yes, but incredible. Rebecca loved it. But now I miss my cousins even more than I did yesterday.

Betsy just said something I need to repeat. A recent encounter with her oldest brother:
Matte said, "You're going to judge me for this. Most men don't like hotmail. But I assure you, I am a man. Even though my address is hotmail."
Classic jazz.

I think the drive to the safari is seven hours. Right now I am trying to remember why I signed up in the first place. The elephants don't even talk.