My middle name is "Makena" which, in Kikuyu (a Kenyan tribe), means joy.
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| Me at seven months |
I lived in Nairobi until I was one month old, and then we moved to Uganda, but we went back to Kenya many times.
The truth is, I don't remember anything from the first two years of my life spent in Africa, but my mom took tons of pictures of me as a baby, so I know that it was real. I really did live there.
I know it was fourteen years ago that we lived in Nairobi, but as my mom, heart-stricken by the horrible news of this shooting, types anxious messages to her friends currently residing in Kenya, I can't help but Wonder:
Why am I so lucky?
It could have been me, enjoying a frozen yogurt with my friends at the Westgate Mall.
It could have been me, at the movies with my brother for a weekend treat.
But it wasn't.
What if our life as a family had gone differently and my dad had continued working full time as a doctor in Africa? We might still have been living in Nairobi, Kenya.
One of us might have been in that mall yesterday when the Islamist terrorists started shooting their AK-47 guns.
I do know our life in Kenya is waaaaaay in the past, but I still feel like I missed this attack by very, very close.
I feel so powerless when I look at the pictures of those poor victims lying dead on the floor. Why are humans SO cruel? Why can't we all just leave each other alone?
My thoughts today are directed to all the Kenyans and residents of Kenya who are most likely terrified.
Lets give a prayer to all those people, regardless of which religion we follow, or how we pray, if we pray at all. Lets just hope with all our hearts for those people to be safe and recover.
Blessing to all.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan.
DeleteBlessings to all.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you spent a part of your life in Africa. That is really cool When I heard about the shooting in Kenya, I was devastated. There has been so much violence in the world recently and it hurts to hear about it. My thought go out to the people in Kenya as well and I hope they can recover from this terrible event.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mybrokeneggshells.com
It really, REALLY sucks (sorry for the use of language) how much violence there is, right? :(
DeleteIt is horrible and also the Navy Yard shooting here in Washington. All the shootings everywhere are just horrible and so cruel. I am so sad for the people in Kenya. They also had to put up with the bombings of the embassies about 15 years ago. Kristin and Gerardo ere there. We were so worried about them. Peopel are so cruel and guns should be outlawed.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. Guns should have been outlawed a looooooooong time ago.
DeleteThe world has gone mad. I am sad and angry too. sad sad sad.
ReplyDeleteTracy
Thanks, Tracy, for stopping by.
DeleteI know, Carm. It could've been you or your brother or your parents. A women who went to your mom's and my high school years after us was one of the Canadians who was killed. It's so upsetting and scary. Hugs to you.
ReplyDeleteGosh, that is so shocking!
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