A Slice of Life and Golden Orbs

It's strange having Katie here with us. Different. I imagine if it were all the time it would be different too. Now, it feels like we have to, not so much entertain her, but consider her. I don't know what she likes to eat. I don't know what she likes to do. So I think, well, she'll eat what we eat and she'll do what we do. So, Saturday morning we take a walk around the 'hood, followed by (what is a rarity these "fit" days) breakfast at Millie's, then a stroll over to the Farmer's Market before trekking on home.

As they don't allow dogs in the market, Will took Shadow and headed over to the slice of park to sit and wait at the fountain, while Katie hesitated, not knowing which direction she wanted to go. With Dad and Shadow to sit in the grass? Or into the market with me? She came with me. I was glad. We strolled and I asked her if she wanted some juice. She answered shyly and very politely "No thank you". Cute. She tagged along as I handled and bagged some produce.

I chatted momentarily with a man at a stall selling African carvings. Something in his features and demeanor made me think that he was not American born. There was a soulfulness in the eyes, a gentleness in the smile. I asked him where he was from.

"West Africa" he told me.

I told him I had been to East Africa; Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Zanzibar.

"How many times? Once?" he asked.

"Twice" I said.

"And will you go back again?" he asked.

"Yes. Definitely. It's beautiful country." And I let my fingers trail along a couple of the carving as if to feel the warmth of the African sun on their surface.

I'm enjoying the market with Katie on my heals and Africa at my fingertips. I told Katie we had one more stop at the flower stall and we picked out some blooming stalks of lilies, snap dragons and golden orbs of some sort to adorn the piano.