A good friend recently traveled from here in Seattle to visit long term friends in Maine. She very kindly gifted me with the 2 postcards shown above. Very welcome additions to my collection.

Nyuki Ni Mali = Bees Are Wealth

A Handy Guide to Bee-Keeping in East Africa by Dr. I Mann

A book published by the Eagle Press, Kampala, Nairobi, and Dar Es Salaam

I feel such nostalgia seeing this book on my desk. A book that belonged to my husband and reminds me of those days long ago when I arrived in Nairobi to do the research for my PhD thesis. And a handsome man arrived at approximately the same time. I had come from Berkeley in California. That handsome man had arrived from Belfast Northern Ireland. We happened to be staying at the same quasi hotel – the United Kenya Club. We eventually said “hello” and joined forces to go to the Post Office. The Post Office trip extended to a wander around “downtown” Nairobi, an afternoon at the cinema to see the Beatles film HELP, a scurry back to the United Kenya Club in time for dinner. It was “love at first sight!” – a few hiccups along the way but we married a year and a half later. And lived happily ever after – well almost…..He passed 2 years ago now. Needless to say I miss him!. We had a good life together – and 3 sons to carry on after us.

Now I find myself having to decide how to distribute the fruits of all their dad’s hard work. I did contribute a small amount to this joint legacy. But it’s great to feel that we have earned enough to materially help our sons.

Events that inadvertently led to Pearl Harbor

Keokuk and Hamilton Bridge, Keokuk, Iowa

It’s All About The Competitions

Ready for boarding school, August 1983

A nostalgic photo from long ago. In fact that was a false start for boarding school. We didn’t go overseas until a few years later.

How would you describe a “goat” to a non English speaking person? A small domesticated farm animal that gives milk?

I was faced with this problem while I was trying to concentrate on something else. This was a challenge and I have to say that I failed.

Two Cats

Postcard from Marika Maijala.

Postcard