Toaster

I am sitting in South Africa and it is beautiful here.  It is more European than I expected it to be.  It is definitely cleaner than east Africa, where I am accustomed to going.  The Lodge here rocks! I am eating breakfast, a treat in itself, something that I rarely take time for.  I will take tea this morning.  I actually believe that deep down I am a proper British guy, with a top hat and walking cane.  And I do smoke pipe and cigar like in those days…

I ordered an omlette and write another sentence.  The sun is warming my face and it really feels quite good.  Almost makes me forget about my jet lag.  A goat is eating leaves off a tree.  In the garden the aroma of lavender makes its way to my sense that I am in a different land. Is this heaven?

A young African woman just walked by and said “good morning, Sir!”  Sir?  Can you believe it?  I was addressed as Sir in a beautiful African – British accent.  I am certainly in Heaven now.  If there was any doubt before it is settled right now.

Okay so I am in South Africa, feeling very British in wine country with Latin music playing in the background.  Isn’t it a funny thing that the mariachi band is playing a peppy piece.  Did I miss something...am I in Africa?

I just retrieved my toast from the buffet line. It is warm and kind of crisp but not “toasted.”  The toaster does not work. I confess that I am a bit relieved….I really am in Africa.  By the way the goat just walked across the courtyard and into the glass of the sliding glass door.  Absolutely a true story.  No doubt, I am in Africa not heaven.

There is a hint of fall in the air.  My table is overlooking a verandah and a water fall, about 10 feet high by 10 feet wide. Four German men have just adjourned their rather heated discussion to go outside for a smoke. No doubt to settle their differences the European way around a cigarette.  No clouds. Crisp. Clear. A slight breeze touches my cheek.  There are small ripples in a pond to my left, a slight breeze is blowing. It is wine country in a rural area outside Johannesburg, South Africa.

I take another bite of my omlette. Doesn’t breakfast and tea taste better on vacation? The Scriptures talk a lot about role reversal.  I wonder if in heaven I will be serving her and speaking in my Eurocentric accent to her with a dignified, “Good morning Madam?” The first shall be last and the last shall be first….Hmmm…