Birfdays

Rainy season is upon us and it was an interesting season. First off, my beloved Tamby died while I was visiting Galen for his birthday. It was a hard time, but it really makes me realize the circle of life. I know that the time he was with me was a much better time than any other that he would have had if I hadn’t adopted him. I wish I was able to take him home with me like I was planning, but the memories we made while he was here will never be forgotten.  What was really special was that the Ugandans around me were really sympathetic and supportive after he died, which was really surprising, because they aren’t attached to animals at all.

On a lighter note, I adopted a kitten when I was in Fort Portal for all my mice that have kindly taken up residence in my house. We named him/her Kitty Lemmiwinks Leo-Pard. And you have to pronounce Leo-Pard like the Ugandans because it is really cute. It is the most rambunctious little kitty I have ever had but brought light and laughter into my house after a rough time. (Especially when people realize how much of a dog person I am, and now that I have a cat.) Galen’s birthday was fun, I baked him a coconut cake, gave him gifts and relaxed for the week I was up there. It was nice just be in each other’s company. He accompanied me back to my house afterwards so I didn’t have to be alone when we buried Tamby.

Lemmiwinks made herself at home, playing and meowing all day long. (We got her too young, about 3 weeks old, so I was her mother and she wouldn’t leave me alone.)  We spent Halloween at the house watching “scary” movies, eating popcorn and pumpkin bread.

            

Then came my birthday. Galen came down for a long weekend, and my big birthday present were plants! We dug up the ground around my house to make it ready for flowerbeds and started to plant! He brought me strawberries, lemon grass, stevia, mint, ferns, sage, rosemary, lemon verbena, spruce tree, an African flower bush, tree bushes and flower vines. (As you can see I am really good about the names of the plants…) Before Tamby died he dug us some nice holes that we were able to plant some of the plants and remember him forever. It was a very peaceful, low-key weekend. I was also able to make starter plants of the flower seeds that grandma had sent me! I am excited to put them in because all the Ugandans want to see what American flowers look like. My good friends, Emily and Ryan also gave me sunflower seeds that I will plant in the back of the house for a nice backdrop to the house. We went into Mbarara for a night to be with all our friends and have a couple of festive drinks and a nice dinner with everyone to wrap up the weekend.

            

I received many amazing birthday presents from friends and family. So thank you very much for sending them to me! It was a really nice treat during a hard time.