Birthday Post- Corinna

Written Jan 9, 2013:

I just completed my 38th year. Actually, though my birthday was yesterday, the time difference between Kenya and the U.S. and the fact that I was born 11:30 p.m. in Pennsylvania, made the technical marking of my years this morning about 7:30 a.m. 

My birthday started early with an hour and 45 min walk across the savannah landscape to a village where we spent some hours working with our partner organization.  Mid-afternoon, we put on our hats, more sunscreen and returned by the same path (“Nikishukunye tenkoitoi toonkejek”- Then we came back by the path on foot).  

Since we were not in a rush, we stopped by the Ewuaso  Kedong river. It was running, which is unheard of in January.  We sat and listened to the water flowing across the rocks- a sound we’ve not heard for a long time. 

We passed through what we call the “river rock walk”, then down over the “ankle roll knoll”, across the quarry and scrambled up the big rocks of the escarpment.  At the top, shady trees lulled us to sit and stare at the green sweep of the valley for a while before heading home. A hike in the air with the green and the peace around me was a great birthday gift.

Back at the house, the internet managed to pull in an inbox of birthday wishes and a few email letters- that made me feel happy and loved. I had a couple great phone connections and “Happy Birthday” renditions. We topped it all off with a low sugar chocolate cake and frozen homemade chocolate pudding (excellent ice cream substitute) made by Doug. My birthday was complete.