new years day
January 01 2007
I'm thirty-one again. Its my birthday, and I have
decided to stop at thirty-one (four years ago.) The
kids think its hilarious that I'm getting old,
jumping on any opportunity to remind me of my
delusional state of being in the "early" thirties.
I think they like the idea that Dad is human too.
Sometimes. There are those moments saying goodnight
at Amelia's bedside when she has thought it out a
little too far and realizes that being human means
being mortal. She'll cry a little while I console
her with antics of my living to a hundred and
miscellaneous thoughts on heaven. Somehow 100 seems
old enough. Anything less is just not fair to an
eight year old. The triple-digits make it seem far
enough off I guess. Such nights tend to end with an
extra big hug, and I think I got one today. A good
birthday present.
Renee made me a cake. Nine years ago when we were amateurs at this missionary stuff, she assembled the very same cake as she did today, a German Chocolate. Its a tricky recipe anywhere, but toss in the altitude and questionable ingredients available in our part of the world, and its a real challenge. The first one ended up rather lopsided, fitting in very well with our new Kenyan home. I think that after nine years of culinary experience, Renee had higher hopes for this one. But alas, it ended up lopsided too. She was frustrated but I think the whole thing can just be chalked up to the "Africa Factor" - a Bermuda Triangle type phenomenon with angles that add up to something other than 180 degrees... a spacial convergence of crooked lines and traffic jams that defy the imagination, a strange but undeniable force that plays havoc with every area of life. Even birthday cakes. I gave Renee a hug and told her it would be OK. Her imperfect cake was better than OK though. It was a signature creation... from the kitchen (and hands) of Renee... the woman I love, who will give half her day to make a cake for me. Because she loves me. And it was delicious too.
A good start to mid-life despite the lack of an Audi TT in the driveway.
Renee made me a cake. Nine years ago when we were amateurs at this missionary stuff, she assembled the very same cake as she did today, a German Chocolate. Its a tricky recipe anywhere, but toss in the altitude and questionable ingredients available in our part of the world, and its a real challenge. The first one ended up rather lopsided, fitting in very well with our new Kenyan home. I think that after nine years of culinary experience, Renee had higher hopes for this one. But alas, it ended up lopsided too. She was frustrated but I think the whole thing can just be chalked up to the "Africa Factor" - a Bermuda Triangle type phenomenon with angles that add up to something other than 180 degrees... a spacial convergence of crooked lines and traffic jams that defy the imagination, a strange but undeniable force that plays havoc with every area of life. Even birthday cakes. I gave Renee a hug and told her it would be OK. Her imperfect cake was better than OK though. It was a signature creation... from the kitchen (and hands) of Renee... the woman I love, who will give half her day to make a cake for me. Because she loves me. And it was delicious too.
A good start to mid-life despite the lack of an Audi TT in the driveway.