Installment 31

Installment 31
Well, she’s tougher than I thought. English Lady told me today that she is giving up her share of the Coffee Shop. It’s been bothering me ever since….being the compassionate type……just what am I going to call English Lady’s…this is really affecting me..and we all know that it is all about me. But, she has managed to put up with me for almost 2 months steady. She told me awhile back that she had seen worse, but today she recanted. “You Yanks are a tenacious lot” she said. “Now if you were French….. Anyway, today was her last official day in the harness, and we went in to see her….well, J & C anyway, me.. more to gloat. I have to give her this though, most women, save Sandy, start looking for a way to avoid me within a couple of weeks. Counting October, she almost has 3 months. “If you can hang on for 3 more weeks, I’ll be gone” I taunted. “Can’t do it. And besides, you might come back, and then were would I be.” she lamented. “Good point” I said. And so, thinking I have a conscience, she attempted to pass blame on to me for her decision to move on. More than one person has made that mistake. So, let me help you understand this woman…..ha ha ha….understand and woman in the same sentence…..I crack me up! English Lady has another name,,, imagine that. It is Theresa something or another…when you first meet her, she is introduced as Mrs Somethingoranother….later as your friendship grows, you can call her Theresa…and when you really grow close, ‘English Lady’. She is from some other country…I can’t recall at the minute. She says she has been involved with the law in that country. Jeff says she might be a lawyer, but I suspect that “involved” might be looked at in a different way. Why else would someone end up in this country? Anyway, she has travel most of the world and ended up in Africa, in Kenya, in Kitale. I mean, after seeing so much of the world, why wouldn’t you want to settle in the 15th century…I mean, really! She said something about settling in other places, but this was where her husband lives and she seems to have an affection for him. I don’t know much about her, so I will make up where I don’t have any facts, just like always. So, about 4 years ago, she and Mr Somethingoranother came here. After seeing all the tourist attractions….oh wait, their aren’t any…they started a business of some kind…she won’t tell me what or where. In the meantime E.L. agreed to help two other ladies start the Coffee Shop and teach them how to do business. Long story short, mission accomplished. Now it’s time for her to let go…..dang and I thought I had done my thing again.
Let me say this. I have met a lot of people over the years, and many of them have my respect. In the short time I have known E.L. she has moved right near the top. This is a funny place. It seems that people either give or they take….not much in the middle. E.L. is one of the givers. I’ve only heard a few stories, but I know there are many. She has helped so many, by meeting needs at the ‘hospital’, saving kids and women off the streets, and intervening to protect babies. She seems to thrive on pouring herself into the lives of others…most of whom she has never met before. Remember Mama Manu, the one who died recently…E.L. was there for her until the end. Not uncommon for her.
The other night Carla mentioned something E.L. said a couple of weeks ago. Someone said something about sometimes it’s hard here and ‘back home’ sounds good. E.L. said something to the effect that this is where life really is. “You know you are alive because you are either really up…like when Dorcas is saved, or really down, like when Mama Dorcas gives her life for her baby…no middle ground…up or down..you know you are alive.” “I couldn’t live where your life consisted of whether your washing machine worked or was broken. You know you are alive here.” So I have been thinking about that and I think she is right. This is life. Not always fun…maybe not very often, but there is no question that you are alive.
So, with that, I give you my respect and gratitude, English Lady….you make me want to be a better person.
Since I think I have only a few readers…ones who’s comprehension is pretty low, I’m sure that E.L. doesn’t read these masterpieces. But if for some reason she sees this (while wrapping garbage or something) I hope she understands that sometimes I stretch the truth…just a little. By the way, she isn’t going anywhere and will still show up at E.L’s, I mean, aahhh, what’s the place on Sundays and other days…especially after I leave.
It is said that you are either born in Africa or you are called to Africa….you just don’t come to live in Africa. I’ve met some really incredible people that have been called here…and a few that have been born here. Me, I wasn’t born here…and even though I am in my God’s debt….(for everything)….for bringing me here…. I have to say, that I don’t know about a ‘calling’ as of yet. Maybe I’m just a coward, or maybe hard of hearing, or maybe I haven’t been called. But I do know that I have met people who have given up life as they have known it to serve and help a needy people. I am inspired to live more for my God. Would you help keep me accountable to what I just said?