Tad's Life

At least at Christmas time we have a song!

Sorry, that comment doesn't reflect a thankful heart, does it?

In fact, we have been busy. Last night was the DA Staff Christmas dinner. We ate at the Hacienda Hotel, which is not far from the school, off the Camberene Road. There were 60 of us with spouses like myself. It was nice: reasonable food and good conversation with Charlie and Ginny and Aaron. Afterwards we all went to the Adamsons’ house for cookies and coffee and more conversation. They have a wonderful place with a large yard. Some sat around a campfire. Jane was with others were on the porch. I was in the living room talking to Paul and Paula and David Walker. Afterwards we walked the couple blocks back to DA to get Jonathan and the car.

Apparently they had had an adventure while we were out. The power was off at the school and they had a gas lantern running at the dorm. Something went wrong and it caught on fire. Fortunately Davin, the high school guy who was babysitting the boys, kept his cool. He somehow grabbed it and got it out to a balcony and threw it to the sand below. No one was hurt as far as I know. Well, not by that. The chasing games with fireworks earlier caused a few casualties, our son told us!

Friday night we stretched way out of character. Jonathan had his Christmas program at school. It was a musical presentation by the elementary and middle school students. They sang and did a few skits / presentations and even poetry recitals. Jonathan ("Jony") had a solo on one verse of a song. He did well. His classmate, a Ouakam neighbor with a beautiful voice, had the next verse. Unfortunately, she had the horribly embarrassing experience of blanking out on her words. I was very proud of how he encouraged her as they left the front of the stage to go back to their places.

Going to see Jonathan, of course, was not a stretch. When we got home in the taxi (the car was in the shop once again!!!!), it was not even 10 PM yet. But that is when the night began. John D was waiting for us. We had promised to let him take us out to eat and he was to leave that night on South Africa Air. So off we went, up to the Blue Note. That’s a jazz club a mile up the road. We had wonderful food and shouted to each other across the table for a couple of hours. And Jane bravely kept from falling asleep onto her plate by pinching herself repeatedly. Well, not really. But it was way past our bedtime! The jazz band (a bunch of middle-aged French guys with the leader playing flute) was very good, even if the acoustics in our side room were not very helpful for conversation. We had a great time talking with John. And the music was a treat for me. Though I love jazz, the place is a bit too pricey for us to go normally.

All of that sounds like playing and enjoying life, you say. That’s not busy. That’s a full, rich life! You’re absolutely right. I repent of my complaint. God has blessed us. Though Jane has been obsessing on getting her grading done and though I still haven’t finished the Board minutes from the beginning of November, the Lord keeps forcing us to take time to enjoy. Praise Him. He is good and all good things come from His hands!! Including jazz clubs and laughter around a campfire.

// posted by Tad @ 8:04 AM