Poetry night, bobby pins, Thanksgiving

I've been wanting to go to "Open Mic Night" in Shirlington for a while now.  It's a cute little, shopping urban area near where I live.  I finally went on Monday night.  What I had assumed would be an open mic night of music, was 100% poetry.  I kind of laughed because I've never been to something where people come out of the audience and recite poetry that they've written and memorized.  But that happened. Two hours worth of poetry.

I was surprised and felt pretty awkward by the people that felt like making elaborate poems describing their love lives...that was not necessary from my perspective. Keep the similes of your love making to yourself and the one you're making love to.  But maybe that's just me. haha However, there were a couple of really great poems.  Some people really are gifted with words and the ability to express situations and emotion in a way that not everyone can.

A couple of funny lines from open mic night that made me smile and pull out my phone to write in my notes are as follows:

"Haunting pasts are like growing neck goiters"

 Or this gem:

"You can keep cutting my limbs but like a star fish, I will keep regenerating and growing back." ??

It was a pretty funny evening.  I can't say that I'll be a regular at open mic night but it was fun to try something new. haha

I have been living off of three bobby pins.  Anyone who knows me, or uses bobby pins themselves, realizes that keeping track of such itty bitty necessities is nearly impossible.  I'd lost all but three and had been sliding them on the end of my sleeve when I slept and using them the next day.  Well I cracked and splurged haha on some new bobby pins.  It's a love/hate relationship I have with those.  I need them but I always, always lose them.

I spent Thanksgiving at my aunts house which was lovely.  I think it's a wonderful yearly reminder to live a life of gratitude for what we have and the people in our lives.  It struck particularly hard this year because I'd lived a good portion of 2012 in a country where material goods are in short supply.  The things I'm thankful for are different than before.  All the "stuff" really doesn't mean anything to me.  I had car problems a month ago and my phone wouldn't turn on this morning and the thought that came to mind was, "Oh gosh.  First world problems."  haha Life was simple when I didn't need a car, clothes brands don't matter, who cares how many fluffy pillows decorate your bed, if you wear makeup or have a hair out of place, if one of your earphones isn't working, the tv didn't record the end of your favorite show, etc etc.  I guess it's just interesting to me living in a world where so many conveniences that are a natural part of our lives are completely nonexistent in Uganda and other parts of the world.  It bothers me when I catch myself worrying about things that don't really matter.

The last Thanksgiving meal that I had was in Bunabuyoka.  It's the little village where we built the health clinic.  The people threw a huge party for us and cooked quite a feast.  There was chicken (meaning what we ate had been literally been walking around outside 2 hours before we ate it), posho, matoke, chapatti, beans etc.  I remember feeling nostalgic that it was the last time I'd be eating with my hands and it'd be socially acceptable.

 I'm thankful for the basics.  For the things that I often forget about when I get caught up in first world luxuries.  I'm thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I'm thankful that I can have a relationship with God.  I'm thankful for my friends and family and their good health.  In Uganda the life expectancy is in the late forties, early fifties.  There's no reason why I should be born into a country where myself, my friends and family will live very long lives, but I'm thankful that I get them for as long as I can.  We're really blessed.  It's good for me to step back every now and then and realize what really matters.

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving.  More posts to come!  :)