i have to write today because it only comes around every 4 years. it's leap year day. what a strange day- snuck in to adjust the calendar- but it could be kind of magical. traditionally, it's the day when a woman is 'allowed' to propose to a man. since that ship has sailed- i think i should come up with another type of tradition. and why don't we have leap year day parties? we should- big parties- because it is only every 4 years- and things that are rare, are valuable and special.
zoe and i went into the 'garment district' of kampala today with my new friend simone. it was awesome. after 40 minutes in line with the matatus by the old taxi park, she got out to help direct traffic, which surprisingly worked and we parked and went in. it was a building with many stalls all selling different fabrics. zoe of course, gravitated toward the silky polyester cloth and i toward the cotton wax-print clothes. there were so many to choose from, all hanging together, and piled on top of each other, the snippets of color and patterns were overwhelmingly beautiful. so overwhelming that i couldn't make a decision. i would pull one out, but by itself, it just didn't look as good, it looked better with the others. the group effect. each cloth was colorful and unique, but their individuality stood out more when next to others. so i couldn't just buy one- it was impossible- i had to maintain their togetherness. this is what i came home with.
we are rare, each of us, which is remarkable when you think about it. each person on this planet is completely unique, hand-made, one of a kind. we are all valuable. we are all special. we are beautiful in our individuality- we are perfectly beautiful when we stand alone. and like the fabric, we also shine in unity.
this afternoon, i walked up to big hill behind our house- my version of the tea fields. i walked through the campus to the side gate, and i passed by the back of the campus kitchen. there was beauty in unity, in action. beside the giant steaming pots, the kitchen staff stood swaying and singing together an echo-y african hallelujah song. it was a magnificent gift. an example of the sweetness of standing with each other- of joining one another.
remember there is only one you. and you are precious. so let your beauty shine- alone or together.
zoe and i went into the 'garment district' of kampala today with my new friend simone. it was awesome. after 40 minutes in line with the matatus by the old taxi park, she got out to help direct traffic, which surprisingly worked and we parked and went in. it was a building with many stalls all selling different fabrics. zoe of course, gravitated toward the silky polyester cloth and i toward the cotton wax-print clothes. there were so many to choose from, all hanging together, and piled on top of each other, the snippets of color and patterns were overwhelmingly beautiful. so overwhelming that i couldn't make a decision. i would pull one out, but by itself, it just didn't look as good, it looked better with the others. the group effect. each cloth was colorful and unique, but their individuality stood out more when next to others. so i couldn't just buy one- it was impossible- i had to maintain their togetherness. this is what i came home with.
we are rare, each of us, which is remarkable when you think about it. each person on this planet is completely unique, hand-made, one of a kind. we are all valuable. we are all special. we are beautiful in our individuality- we are perfectly beautiful when we stand alone. and like the fabric, we also shine in unity.
this afternoon, i walked up to big hill behind our house- my version of the tea fields. i walked through the campus to the side gate, and i passed by the back of the campus kitchen. there was beauty in unity, in action. beside the giant steaming pots, the kitchen staff stood swaying and singing together an echo-y african hallelujah song. it was a magnificent gift. an example of the sweetness of standing with each other- of joining one another.
remember there is only one you. and you are precious. so let your beauty shine- alone or together.
3 comments:
lovely words. lovely you.
i love those fabrics!!
yael- tell me what colors you like and what patters- more crazy, more repetitive, big , small
etc and i'll get you some!
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