Visiting My Roots

          On Saturday evening I got a chance to visit my bibi in the small town of King'ori.  We planed to visit later and stay for at least a week, but before that we wanted to go and visit her just briefly.  My baba, after all, hadn't seen Bibi in twenty years, and understandably he was anxious to visit her.  Since we didn't want a lot of fan fare or a ton of relatives descending on us and demanding to talk to Baba, we went unannounced.
          It was for this reason then that Bibi was not there to greet us when we arrived.  So we went home.  If you believed that, I've got a genuine wooden nickel for sale.  Only five cents.  Word was immediately sent to Bibi while we began preparing the place, which involved talking out all the chairs and sofas and arranging them on the lawn.  Then Bibi came and Baba and I greeted her.  she was VERY happy to see us.  She had a walking stick, and I asked her if she was going to spank Baba for taking so long to come back and visit her.  She said no, she wasn't, because if she did, she'd get tired and the stick would break before she was finished.  Thus it was better for all concerned if she just forgave my baba unconditionally.
          Bibi was very happy to see us, and sang another song, which I also got on video.  I'll see about getting a translation...some day.  After talking with Bibi for a little while, Baba excused himself to show me my plot of land.  Everyone in the family has a share somewhere in the hills around King'ori, and mine was almost right next to Bibi's.  We walked up the road past Bibi's house and up the hill till we came to a tilled field about two acres long and four across.  This was my plot, I could even see my roots (that is, the roots of some plants) there in the turned up soil.  It was rather late though, so I didn’t' get any good pictures of it.  I'll have to go back and take some, and collect a root or two to bring back with me.  One should never forget their roots, but always keep them close by.
          Since, as I had said, we hadn't told her we were coming, Bibi was only able to throw together a quick platter of meat.  It was very good and soft though (all too often the beef makes my jaw hurt and teeth ache from tiring to chew it).  Fulfilling my role as honorary Babu, I fed Bibi a piece of meat, and she did the same for me.  Since Bibi only new Swahili, most of the conversation was unintelligible to me, so I excused myself, rounded up all my younger cousins, and pulled out my deck of cards.  Baba got to spent a long time talking with Bibi, for which I am glad.  I though, will have to work hard on my Swahili.  Maybe I could teach Bibi a little English...  Like how to say "Sweet!" and "Dude!" and "What's happening, bro?".  Eh, we shall just have to see..


E’ya! - Tate