All in a Day's Work

Today, Friday, the following interchanges took place:

* A woman I last saw four months ago came by. "Do you have a job for me?" she asked, once again.

* I saw a young lady who used to be David's preschool teacher. I asked her how things are going. "Well, the university has been on strike for the past three months so I'm just reading at home."

* One of my HIV+ colleagues is currently bedridden with a bad case of malaria. Another HIV+ colleague commented: "Wow, this malaria, it really manifests itself when you have HIV." With a very low immunity, the HIV+ body has to work very hard to overcome any sickness.

* A gate guard met me with this news: "My brother's wife was a nurse at the hospital, and she just suddenly died this morning. She left behind four children ranging from 10-20 years old.

By the way, have I ever mentioned that life is HARD here?

On a lighter note, the following interchanges were heard later today at our dinner table:

* Tobi: There is really good pizza in America.
Lily: Is it pink?

* Five-year-old David was trying to explain how he fell down on the playground. He finally got up from the table and said, "Let me just demonstrate."

* Lily: Mom, why didn't you drive to America?

* And my personal favorite: The last two evening meals have been pretty mediocre so I really worked to make tonight's something special: little Swiss steaks, mashed potatoes and gravy, sauteed green beans, and candied carrots. Not only was the food good, but the arrangement was also pleasing to the eye. The kids had just finished complimenting me, and then Bayo chimed in, "Great food, Grandma--oh, I mean Honey!" He did not intend to make a joke, but it sure was a good one. I guess I'll have to pass that compliment on to Grandma in Minnesota! Come to think of it, tonight's meal was reminiscent of Grandma's cooking.