Back in the Land of the Round Doorknob

A long trip and a long goodbye but only for a time and, perhaps, this time it won't be so long. Certainly not four years.

Forty hours on the road. The trip to Portland, a sad "aufwiedersehn" to my dear Gerda. The usual lousy movie on the bus but, if you leave the sound off, it ain't so bad as you can create whatever dialogue that pleases.

The airport, checking-in and taking off the belt, shoes and pockets. Through the body scanner-a bit more radiation to add to the rads that I have accumulated over the decades. A bit like the 1/10% benzoate of soda that now percolates through my vessels. The long flight to Frankfurt, a race through the endless corridors and moving belts to get to the short trip to Zurich. The same at Zurich. I used to get excited to get my passport stamped. Made it to the Nairobi plane with 15 minutes to spare and, mirabili dictu, the flight was only about 1/3 full. The shear joy and comfort of stretching out on two whole seats and actually sleeping.

No mishaps and the long line to get my visa-what a beautiful picture I take. Finally out the door and there were my friends waiting, Dr. John Ott and several others that played such an important role in facilitating this trip.

First though there was Bernard, a student whom Gerda has sponsored for years. Grown up and now beginning his third university year. Then a hand-off of a bag of clothes and books that I had brought.

Then there was Kennedy, an aide to James Rege, member of parliament, and he is very important to this tale.

Two students of John's rounded out the group and, of course, Winnifred, the representative of the Matibabu Foundation whose clinic I had promised to visit during this trip.

Greetings, handshakes all around and then off to the Flora Hostel, a place that Gerda and I stay at when we are in Nairobi. Run by the Carmalite Sisters, it is very tidy and the fee includes all meals. It ain't the Ritz but it quite safe.

Into bed and finally more SLEEP. In the morning we go to Kibera, a huge slum on the outskirts of Nairobi, reputed to be the largest in the world housing over 250,000 people, where we were to see a clinic, Ushirika Clinic, that we might support and work at.

So now I will sleep and then when I can I will continue with the story of this trip. Futher episodes to follow in the amazing adventures of Dr. Stephen.