A Kind of Holiday

Last weekend we drove just north of town to Domboshawa. It was a nice afternoon with scattered clouds that kept us from getting too hot on the walk up to the cave where the rock paintings are. Another family arrived when we were there, and Miles started introducing himself. When he asked them where they were from, they said Zimbabwe. Miles said, “You don’t look like Zimbabweans.” It was a quick first lesson on white Africans.

We walked up to the top of the hill which was bald, rounded reddish stone. Families and group of friends were settled in different places to catch the view: round thatch roof houses, green fields, trees, layers of hills that reminded me of the Appalachian Mtns, and afternoon showers in the distance over Harare. Miles kept introducing himself to people, and would be annoyed when I’d intercede to give the poor people some relief. Then he started wandering down the hill out of sight.

About that time, Eliza announced that she needed to go to the bathroom, so we started packing things up and getting ready to walk back down. Unbeknownst to us, Eliza was already taking matters into her own hands and was bare assed and peeing on the rock. Her shorts were off but in the direct line of fire, and of course I’d left spare emergency clothes in the car. She announces she’s ready to do a caca, but luckily, she was dissuaded. Meanwhile, Miles has been out of sight for a while so once we get E back in her panties, we start trudging down looking for him. We found him finally and gave him a good talking to about snakes and such. He proceeded to walk down a wet trail that turned into a rock slide which he proceeded to slide down and just stopped himself before falling in a pool. D was concerned about bilharzias so advised against the kids actually playing in the inviting water.

One more week until school starts. This has felt like a long break without a holiday. David didn’t really have much time off, just a day here and there which was spent unpacking or setting up house. The office was quiet, so convenient for D to get oriented. The kids and I have had time to find our way around a bit, but other than that, it’s been uneventful, considering. There’s been no vacation agenda or frame of mind to do a holiday thing. It’s been great to go to parties, but meeting people for the first time doesn’t compare with getting together with family and old friends.

Still, the view from the balcony off our bedroom and from the ground floor veranda at this Chisipite house is divine (as were the gardens at the Bronte the first 10 days we were here). The pool, in-ground trampoline and swing set are surrounded by a diversity of plants and tall trees all lushly green from the afternoon rains. We have been hanging out by the pool, reading books, taking day trips around the area… This would be a great set up for a holiday! One need just relax and suspend the wondering and list-making for a moment.