Sunday Walks

 

My Sunday walk, such a highlight for me! This morning, it was 80 with a little breeze. Perfect for a morning walk. J called me promptly at 7 and I donned my shoes and left immediately to meet her. I have been a bit sad since returning to Niger, J was still away and then the flooding…our walk route, impassable. Oh, how I have missed it. I think that some of my sadness in the past few weeks was grieving what will not be again and thinking about so many around me that lost so much.

J and I  found a new route on Friday. It will do, but today the bridge called to us. So, we decided to walk across the bridge and take our route as far as we could. We stopped at the gate of Sahel Academy and chatted with the guard. I love his smile and have missed his morning greetings. The normal hustle and bustle there, was not. It was quiet. Houses flattened and people, gone. Gee Whiz, I am grieving a loss of leisure activity and many are grieving much more. Picking up the pieces and starting over. We could see the campus and then the road beyond it were still full of water. We turned around and went back the way we came.

Once we crossed the bridge, we decided to walk along the river using the other part of our usual route. The children on the Road to Galmkallye ran out to greet us. I think they missed us. They are so precious!  It was a delight to stop and chat with familiar faces. They assured us that they were well and that their homes were spared. Seriously, it is so amazing to walk there. So laid back and calm and the people are so happy and friendly…We walked a ways and decided not to venture all the way to the Chinese Bridge as we usually do. So, we greeted more people on the way back.  I sure missed them. There is something so peaceful about our Sunday morning walk…. very sad though, our favorite place to catch a hippo cruise, is now under the water! The poor hammocks just hanging there in the midst of the murky water.

Continuing on our way, past the National Hospital morgue, a young man pulled over to greet us. It was Souleyman, a nurse who worked with us at CURE. He has moved on to a government job at the National Hospital. Another new beginning for him. So fun, to chat and catch up. He is doing well and even though he is missed at CURE, I am glad he can use his training to hopefully better the health care here. After all, that is part of the reason we are here…

So, my day began with something truly wonderful. A Sunday morning walk with a great friend. Yes, grieving what has changed; routines & expectations, what has been lost or way laid, but LOVING new routes, adventures and even looking forward to challenging changes.  Looking forward to more walks and to the REstart of school soon…excitement is in the air!