August 17, 2017 Victoria Falls Rainforest Cafe.
Thank you for your birthday greetings, for those who asked, and those who did not, this is how my day was experienced, in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 15 August 2017.
Catching the light of the rising moon in my camera in the wee early morn, my birthday ended, better than it has started the 24 hours before.
My birthday was no different than any other day, in that it was not the same as the day before, the day after or any other day. I enjoy the uniqueness of each day, and this day was no different. My birthday started at just passed midnight as I tried to get the rising moon, only to have a tree in the way. I finally got the moon but not in its redness like I had hoped. Then waking up to a monetary crisis, in Zimbabwe, where cash machines were cashless. Not the same as priceless, as in the Master Card commercials.
I went to the border with a friend, where she went to get Zambian monies converted to dollars that would be accepted in Zimbabwe. As I waited for her return, I took pictures of the sky which was being inhabited by the moon, helicopters, planes, hang gliders and trees. And also captured people as they tried to not be captured crossing the border. While there, a Zimbabwean truck driver for a South African trucking company engaged me in conversation Arnold became a Facebook friend, as I shot into the sky and talked with him on the ground.
Having gotten the needed cash, I took my friend to her bus, where she needed to go to take exams for her degree in Conflict Management, and I went for breakfast and a rest, after a prior longs day drive and latenight moon watch. Upon waking, in what looks like a castle but really is a hotel under construction I made my way to Victoria Falls and the Rainforest Restaurant for my birthday dinner, served by a waitress who had named her son for me. Joining the party were Warthogs and Baboons.
Having given the waitress Brenda some fabric from Monde for a dress, I then departed to watch the sunset. On the way I saw a few people, appearing to be asking for a ride. I asked how far they were going and they said not far, and the few people and some friends and children, totaling 10 altogether hopped into my CRV and as I drove into the Sun, I also drove them to the National Park compound where they lived. This reminded me of the days, when I was younger, when my family of 9 would travel in one car. Now I had topped it by making 11. A new record for me, even topping the time I transported 9 gay Welsh rugby players, in my Wagon R, to an Irish pub a few years back.
Returning to my faux castle, I was challenged to an indoor football soccer match by Tom AKA TJ, where all at once I could feel what it is like to be young and old at the same time. Trying to score goals, whilst the body, tried to avoid falling and breaking a hip. As was the case, the young man and his 3 shadows were too much for me to overcome and he, though young was ‘Man of the Match’ and I survived without bodily injury, or even injury to my ego.
With day drawing to a close, I prepared to catch the rising moon and stars once more as my birthday escaped into the waning hours of the early morn and the rising of a 39% moon, which meant like me, we had expended 61% of our desired lifespan. I woke up 60 and went to bed 61 and that is how my, not so different, in that it was not the same from other days, was experienced. Monde Litungi Arnold Nodho Huruva Brenda Dube
