August 18, 2017 · Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Repost with lost photos and video
A young man comes face to face with a croc. He struts his stuff. Picked up by a stranger, for who he was named. Eats ice cream for the first time, ending his day with his aunt and cousins, while his mother works late into the night to make things right.
My day with Brenda, her son Brendon and myself, to celebrate our births, and just to have fun, which we did at the crocodile park in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Where we got to see crocodiles and lions, but best of all Brendon taking the early steps, as a 9-and-a-half-month old, needed to propel him through life. I get the honor to feed and film him having his first ice cream, followed by a pizza lunch, and a lift home to his family in waiting. While eating pizza, Brendon caught the eye of a Slovenian woman who surprised him, by picking him up, and I surprised her by talking with her in Slovenian; a country I once lived in.
And this as we had a pleasant day walk in the midst of crocs and lions, with Brendon wearing clothes I gave to him that match the Zimbabwe flag as I wore an African shirt given to me. Enjoy the photos of our day, and Brenda’s reflections, as she experiences first as so does her son. Look as he grabs the croc by the tail, with fear in his mother’s eyes, but not his.
For background, Brenda is a waitress, who served me, at the time she was pregnant, so I gave two tips, one for her and one for her baby. When the baby was born, she gave him my name. With that honor, I will try to honor them from time to time, as I am doing with this visit.
