A slightly different style of entry based on an assignment Maddox has talked about quite a few times this year. These are just a few, small moments from our past couple of weeks.
A few nights ago I was sitting in our neighbors house with about ten of our friends listening to two fantastic musicians drumming and playing the xylophone. Robyn was sitting at the front of the room, ready to teach a yoga class. Suddenly Josie swoops in through the sliding glass door wearing her brand new orange and sparkling Indian dress crying. She’s just woken up from a nap, confused and wanting her mom. Robyn scoops her up and takes her home, returning a few minutes later to start our class.
The kids and I have just finished our grocery shopping in Dzorwulu at the container store only to find we are blocked in by another car. The driver leans over and asks for directions to Osu. He says he’s new to Accra and originally from California and he seems excited to be talking to another expat. I hesitate and then realize I just gave him really good directions. I’m feeling a little more local.
The four of us are dressed quite nice. Maddox, Josie and I in our Ghanaian print clothes and Robyn looking good in a black dress. We’re headed to a Dwali party hosted by a parent at LCS. A policeman with his automatic weapon on his shoulder suggests with a smile and some concern that Maddox might need to tie his shoes.
Saturday, just before I headed out for my early morning bike ride with friends, I heard some whispers and shuffling around in the kids’ room. I peeked through the posts in the rails from the bottom of the stairs and saw Josie walk across the room with a book in her hand. Maddox said something about it being a good choice, asked her to climb into bed with him and then began to read to her.
I could hear Josie and Tina counting, somewhat randomly and laughing hysterically together in the kitchen. I walked quietly to the doorway to see them both, with huge grins on their faces, clapping, jumping and then sticking one foot forward as they played ampe, a popular game among Ghanaian children. I honestly could not tell who was having more fun.
We make the forty-five minute drive to meet up with Mr. Bright for surf lessons eager with anticipation. Today we watched a fishing boat ride a wave in as they returned from a morning shift. It wasn’t long before I was looking over at Maddox with a grin on his face and caution in his eyes as we paddled out past the break for his first try at surfing unbroken waves. Sitting in the lineup watching him grin and laugh as he talked to Mr. Bright, palm trees and fishing boats in the background and beats pulsing from the beach clubs was a purely magical moment.
One Love
