the places we find ourselves

it’s crazy in this country. One moment you’re facing the inexplicable horrific realities of people’s lives, the next, you’re sitting in a theatre with a crowd of mamma mia enthusiests (who have predominately met through a facebook group) actually singing along at full voice to a special showing of the film. It was hysterical really. I wasn’t like a die hard fan of the film or anything but when a friend said she had spare tickets and invited me along, I took the opportuntiy to give my husband a quiet study night in, and headed into central Port Elizabeth. It’s at times like this that I really feel just how easy it is to live in a bubble when you’re here. When you’re in a lovely theatre with a brand new jazz club attached to it, it’s easy not to notice the face of the person standing behind the popcorn counter. She stares out at the crowd of laughing giggling mamma mia fans with this sort of confused awe. Her uniform is pressed and clean, and of the usual garish downtown movie theatre style, yet, I had a picture of her going home that night, after the rest of us have driven off, to a township. I know every country has it’s rich and it’s poor….but it doesn’t mean it’s any easier to stomach.

Now i’m going to be real here. I don’t wake up every day and cry about the situation here. My life is normal. i have tea with my neighbour and take Iona to play in her beautiful little playschool. I have cappucino with my friend at the Pink Fig where I talk about my issues, I buy a birthday present for what i can imagine will be a lovely birthday party tomorrow afternoon for one of Iona’s little friends, (who happens to happens to be the local “baby of the year” winner) i clean the house (with a bad attitude much of the time) and I cook nice meals and bake cookies. There are times when I think I should really give the girls a call and just see how they are instead of waiting till the next time I see them. It’s tough to balance everything I tell myself, or, maybe it’s that it’s more costly to care. OUCH!