Mrs.O's writing room.

Memories of holidays spent in my father’s country side home become fonder every passing year. It’s my fathers home because – I’m an African woman, a married African woman. When I said “I do”, Sam’s people became my people, his home became my home. I embraced a new culture. My father enjoyed company and celebration so, what was a party in Teso without ajon ? - the local brew. My recollection of what went into preparing ajon went something like this;- Women harvested millet from the garden; they loaded it up in sacks and unburdened it in the courtyard. Later, in the cool of the day, after a meal of “ Achok keda ekyadoi ” (sweet potatoes and greens) – they selected thick sticks and pestles to thresh the millet. They saddled their babies on their backs and thumped the sacks to a rhythm. They swayed the sticks high over their heads in a circular motion, gained momentum and brought them down -hard onto the sacks. The threshing went on for close to 30 minutes, spaced with intervals to turn t...

I hear that's the new cool greeting among high school students. Forget "what's up?", "what's cooking?", "what's cutting?". Anyway, it's 4 o'clock in the morning, I have been up since 3 am. I simply can't sleep. Got a few things on my mind, but usually that doesn't keep me awake at night. So I decided to use the time to reply all mail that has been pending in my inbox. Read about swine flu outbreaks. Then - I blog :-) That's what's barakin this side of the world.

-Standing in a queue and the man behind me doesn’t care to give distance. -Locking keys in the car, desperately watching them dangle in the window – no spares at hand. -Giving a kid directions to fetch something and watching them turn every which way except... -Sitting in the foldable chair of a taxi, furiously being tapped because the person at the back wants to exit. Hey! I know. The taxi stopped, didn’t it? I heard you say “masaawo” didn’t I? – what now?! -In the middle of bathroom business when a kid knocks on the door claiming it’s an emergency. -Person claims to have an urgent message but never gets to the point. -Power cut in the middle of a favorite soap. -Chewing aloud. -The smell of raw onions on bread. -Settling down to eat a snack I labored over only to hear “please give me some”. -Misplacing the tickets to the show -Wrapping up for the day when the boss arrives with extra urgent work. -Forgetting my purse - just then, the conductor stretches out his hand for the fare. -Som...

Flash back I made it into the room just in time to see Peter and Simon chew the last slices. I begged for some but it was too late; already gone, making it's way passed the epiglottis and down the canal. What a sad moment that was. Standing as close to Peter as I could get, I looked in the black spot of his eye, desperately hoping I’d savor the taste as he swallowed. When he finished I asked – nearly chocking on my tears. “What did it taste like?” He squared up his shoulders, cleared his throat and was about to explain when Simon shouted “It tastes like chocolate”. Oh! My mouth watered as I relished the thought of munching on a chocolate apple. “No” Peter said “He is lying, it tastes like a sweet raw mango” Huh? I was confused. While I was trying to think it through Simon asked me if I really wanted an apple. My eyes lit up, I said “yes”. He said, “You want it right now?”, more excited and louder I said “yes, now, now”. He asked me to follow him into the kitchen which I did in a hu...

I finished The Kite Runner yesterday, what an amazing novel! While people have moved on to Olive Kitteridge I'm jogging a long on the edge of the crowds. It feels like I travelled to Afghanistan, lived there, run a kite, fled the country, came back, got a thorough beating, healed from the wounds and became the proud parent of a little boy. Hosseini's descriptions are so vivid - I smelt the air in Kabul, felt the dust settling on my feet and interacted with the locals. I like that he treasures Afghan culture, that even after 20 years in a foreign land, Kabul is still home. He is in touch with the people, and their customs. I had similar sentiments after reading A Thousand Splendid Suns . Hosseini is/was a doctor, but he has mastered the art of writing fiction better than those schooled in the art. Sometimes natural God given talent opens doors that lecture theatres can not/may not. His writing inspires me to hope that I too can live here and treasure the traditions of my peop...

There I was, minding my own business when suddenly -"tag, your it!". Ugandan girl , smiling, said something about tagging me with the Honest Scrap Award. I'm told “ This award is bestowed upon a fellow blogger whose blog’s content or design is, in the giver’s opinion, brilliant .” What can I say?, it's cool to be thought of as an Honest blogger but getting an award for it, is even cooler :-). "Ahem!! Ladies and gentle men, I'm honored to receive this Honest Scrap award courtesy of Ugandan girl . And now to bare my soul. It is scary, you know?!, kinda like a guy gathering his wits to tell a girl he likes her". But anyway, honest things about me; I love peace and quiet. When I'm writing an article, patching together scrap notes, thinking through ideas, I need maximum silence. That is when it brews, thoughts flow like a peaceful river or a thunderous storm (depending) on to the paper or computer. I have the best family in the world. Talk about laughter...

As you may have noted by now, I love commemorating Easter and the events leading up to it. Easter is the essence of my being – life itself. Jesus took my blame, my sin, my shame. He died so I could live. The tomb is empty and my heart is full of Joy He is risen!! He is Alive, I just talked to Him today. So, I’m musing on this deep stuff - thinking white robes, angels singing, satan - head hung low, coiled up, defeated and feeling like hell. Then Mich tells me, with a grave look on his face how I must buy him Easter eggs, paint them and fill them with candy for an Easter egg hunt. Commercials are buzzing;- easter bunnies, easter eggs, easter casseroles - the works. Errrr … and just what does this rodent like, big eared, furry hopper have to do with Easter? I’m told; Easter comes at the budding of spring which is synonymous with newness. Rabbits tend to give birth to litter round about now;- eggs are also synonymous with fertility. An ancient tradition started in Germany had Eoster a...

As I strolled through the park that evening, sobbing my eyes out, my heart felt so tight, like it would explode right then. My world was falling apart. I struggled with the fact that Jesus let this happen, leaving me with no comfort but Himself. He didn’t fulfill my dreams. I had planned my life out but He was not following the script. I was shattered. In that moment, every thing around was blur, I could hear myself breathe. I felt trapped in a dark room, all other thoughts shut outside. He had my full attention. 38Then He said to them, My soul is very sad and deeply grieved, so that [ c ]I am almost dying of sorrow. Stay here and keep awake and keep watch with Me. 39And going a little farther, He threw Himself upon the ground on His face and prayed saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire. … 42Again a second time He went away and prayed, My Father, if this cannot pass by unless I...

Losing basins Losing plates Finding basins Finding plates and cups Marking basins Marking plates and cups and spoons Jerrycans, basins Lose them, find them, mark them Fill them with water, note the amount Don't use those drops without permission Drops of water carried from the well From the well - on your head, nearly breaking your neck Plates in the lockers, precious lockers, padlocked for safety Safety? Yes, of grab and appetizer What appetizer? The one christened " appeta" "Appeta" added to the beans and weevils, to make them palatable. Beat bush - not the President Bush - the millet flour Unscrew light fixture, connect the wires The wires, wrapped around bed springs Bed springs from the decker, placed in a cup of water " Suicide " a name well befitting Did the bush die ? Not in experienced hands Books and pens Pens and textbooks Watch out! exams draw near - then they go missing Missing? Missing? how? Someone took them, borrowed without asking ...

"As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.' " …"Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!" Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple . Mark 11:1-11 The donkey was at the right place at the right time. Its “spot light” moment had arrived. I like to think it was born for that purpose - to have Jesus sit on its b...

Nearly every morning, I don my jogging gear and drag myself to the gym. Working out is not fun, it's just one of those necessary evils so to speak. 5 years and 3 babies later, I have pots, yes pots on my belly that would inspire any woman to hit the gym. When I bend over my midsection unravels into 3 parts - Oh! it's a sorry sight I tell you. Makes me wonder how these ladies do it -I know they are celebrities but they are human. Didn't they eat byenda , salt less bean soup, porridge, more porridge and bitter berries just so the milk would flow? I mean, it's murder trying to breast feed while dieting to lose weight. What about the needed rest and dealing with memory loss? - pregnancy does things to you. Personally it takes another 9 months to figure out what is happening in the world, add the sleepless nights;feeding, soothing, changing diapers - absolute chaos. How in all that mix do they get such coveted bodies?. Halle Berry had a baby just the other day, she is in her...