Tad's Life

Jonathan turned 12 on Saturday. Friday after school he had 15 of his friends over for the night. They played capture the flag and ate pizza and drank punch. They watched a boy movie (Three Ninjas) and had a bonfire out back. Finally we spread foam mattresses from the dormitory over the living room floor and they slept like puppies snuggled all over the place. I don't know what time the last ones went to sleep, but the cartoons ended around 1 AM, we think. I wasn't conscious by that point, though I did sleep in the guest bed with the door open too listen for trouble!


The next morning I made crepes for them all. I started with a double batch and the half-batch I had left in the fridge. Eventually I had to make four more batches to satisfy. Jane had dealt with that same bottomless pit when she made pizzas and punch. Thursday night and then when they came home from school Friday, she was immersed in the kitchen cooking up a storm.

Fortunately they gorged on the pizza, so one Texas sheet cake was sufficient.

Saturday morning, with mattresses all over the entire living room floor, you can imagine the wrestling match and karate demonstration that took place! Eventually for the sake of the furniture and light fixtures, we chased them outside. They commenced to play military games. I didn't catch whether we were doing sci-fi, Star Wars type stuff or something more current. Eventually they came in and the PS/2 was finally fired up for a bit.

I was actually quite proud of Jonathan. He organized the activities and made a point of keeping the video game stuff off since only one or two could play at a time.

They are great kids, these friends of Jonathan's. Several times Jonathan had them vote about what to do next. And they did. There are boys with all types of personalities: loud and bossy, quiet and mild, absent-minded and all the rest. Some love sports; others prefer reading. Some are entertained by the scatological; others wanted to watch Jane cook or play with the bonfire. In spite of all the difference, they got along great. I didn't hear a word of conflict the whole time they were here.

Saturday evening, Gretchen joined us for a birthday meal of steak and fries and nems (Vietnamese spring rolls). And some of that Texas sheet cake as Jonathan opened presents. We also had phone conversations with Grammy and Grandpa and with Allison. We'd already talked to Anna on Friday for an hour!

So, Jonathan now has a new football, basketball, soccer ball, baseball and glove. He also has a new computer game to occupy him during these next two weeks of spring break, along with various toys and fireworks and goodies. Not a bad haul, eh?

Happy birthday, son!

But before my story, an update on Dary. He is back in the US finally. The trip was delayed a bit, I assume for health reasons, though it could have been bureaucratic. The military flew his folks and sister back to be with him. Jan has put out a letter with a first update. If you want to see that, email me. It's a bit gruesome in its details, but the good news is that the doctors are very hopeful that Dary will walk again and be OK. The bad news is that there will be lots of pain and lots of time involved in getting to that point.

She told me later at the Sports Day over at school and my heart started to race. I went to check and sure enough, the pouch was not to be seen.

I confess, it really through me for a loop emotionally. It was like I had just hit a wall. I suppose after a week and more of being on the go continuously, I was susceptible. Whatever it was, I was pretty discouraged that day. On Sunday the Lord gave me a bit of perspective during the worship service. No, nothing particular. A song or two. A familiar passage of Scripture.

So, I spent some time at a police station and at a photo shop and at the US Embassy this week. It was surprisingly painless, if you don't count the waiting and the taxi rides! I had a copy of the passport and that helped immensely. The police were gracious, if not efficient. I was passed back and forth between guys for a half-hour. And the lady in the consulate was very nice and helpful. Even the photo shop was a 15 minute affair. Imagine that in West Africa. The wonders of digital technology. In the end I should have a new passport in two weeks.

I'm still working on the Ohio driver's license. First indications are good, though. I just wish I had a copy of that. I could drive here with a photocopy of it. I was sure I had one!

No, this is not Jonathan practicing to have his driver's license photo taken! Have you seen "Nacho Libre"? If not, the face will mean nothing. If you have, we thought you'd appreciate it! Yes, he's being a bit goofy with the camera. I really need to explain to him the idea of blackmail, though.

Last Thursday, Friday and Saturday was the annual SIPS tournament. This is an invitational for a number of small, private English-language schools in the Dakar region. Dakar Academy hosts the event in cooperation with the International School of Dakar. BCS, a WEC school an hour outside the city and two bi-lingual schools in Dakar proper fill out the ranks.

For the DA kids, this is a highlight of the sports year, as they compete in soccer, volleyball and track. Jonathan was on a volleyball team and a soccer team, as well as running in the 100-meter and the 200-meter dashes. He took the trophy in the 200-meter when his good friend and school champion, Scott, misunderstood the time and missed the race entirely! He also played great soccer and volleyball, surviving a brutal last game in soccer that had him on the ground as much as in a football game!

It's not only the kids that get into this event. Several of the teachers caught the spirit. Here is our UWM colleague and friend, Bill E, in a mohawk and the school tee-shirt!