Anticipation is one of my very favorite words. Who doesn’t love knowing something simply wonderful is coming down the pike? I can think of so many examples in my life or the lives of others, anticipating simple things to the large scale grandiose!

Remember as a kid learning to ride that two wheel bicycle and you just knew you could do it, and it felt like flying, and so very free, just like you anticipated it would. Especially when you put your hands up in the air and let go of the handle bars! Or think about that first bite of ice cream, or piece of pie, or candy bar, or that cold sip of iced tea on a hot summer day, or that first ripe home grown tomato in the hot month of July. What about that first kiss received after dating someone special and you let out a soft sigh because thank God that first kiss was over and it was even better than you thought it would be. Or at night you can wait, wait, wait, for that bright full moon to rise above that horizon lined with the Tall Beings, anticipating that the trees will slowly release that giant, gorgeuos light in the sky. And who doesn’t remember counting the days till Christmas and Santa has left a big surprise! Then the big events come rolling around in your life, like graduation day, or your wedding day, or at last that baby has arrived onto this beautiful planet, or it’s the first day of that dream job you always wanted, or the last day of work and retirement sidles up next to you and says hello! Anticipation has had you so wired you can’t quit smiling because you’re finally standing in the reality of it now!

But, on a more personal note let me tell you about a huge anticipation in my own life. It’s called vacation, and has been another one of my favorite words for decades. When I worked as a nurse I was allowed six weeks off every year. I became officially known as “the slacker” because I took advantage of my time off, traveled quite a bit , and proudly let everyone in the office know it. Self care is very important and unfortunately some medical people can be late on getting that memo. Though I am retired as a nurse, I still retain my license, and I still take vacations!

So let me tell you about my destination plans. It’s very exciting…drum roll please. AFRICA! Can you believe it? I know, I am pinching myself some days. I am traveling to Kenya, Africa, with my darling Man, Alan, and two friends, Kelly and Paul. We are flying into Nairobi and plan to explore this amazing city. And yes, we are going on a safari and plan to see the Big Five, elephant, lion, rhinoceros, leopard, and the African buffalo. We will visit an elephant orphanage whose goal is to give these huge, four legged animals the gift of living back into the wild, the habitat they belong in. I have read the young elephants are so friendly they would like to sit in your lap! But best of all we are attending a wedding of two beautiful people, Irene and Felix, and will spend a day or two in the village that Irene’s mother lives in. And that is always one of the best highlights of any trip I have ever experienced, spending time with the local people who live in the vicinity.

It will be a magical time for all of us. I do intend to blog while I am in Africa. And I will post pictures! Reddogg and Pan are in good hands as my niece and her family will be staying at Our Treehouse. Of course I will write again soon, and blog, but the countdown begins! Only eleven more days till we board the plane. Oh! The anticipation!! I can feel it deep in my bones!

c   Love, Joan