Day 3 of my blog... whatever day it really is

We left the national library feeling very accomplished, and once again, very hungry… or what Americans call hungry. We decided to get more for our money this time and I thought we should try a fish and chips. Maura picked the snack size portion in case the fish actually resembled a fish. I should have followed her lead because they brought out a huge plate of fish and fries. She was also right because it did indeed look like a fish having scales on the bottom side next to the plate and a few bones to boot. It was well prepared and I cared little that they brought salt and vinegar which I have never cared for but covered mine with juice from the slice lime. Neither of us bothered much with the tomato sauce that passed for catsup but the fries were already seasoned. This time when a man approached me with his small child he asked for food. I was so taken aback that all I could do was nod and say of course as I grabbed a handful of fries and put them on to a napkin thinking I would not want the child to choke on bones. I would have given him the whole plate but he had thanked me and left before my hands could follow my thoughts. Now my whole blog is not going to be wallowing in white man’s guilt but neither will I apologize for it. We have in abundance, and even those of us who share, do not come close to the need. And the truth is that individual sharing will never meet the need until the systems that trap people is such poverty are dismantled. I am re-reading Cry the Beloved Country, one of many books that prophesied the judgment that awaited the sins of colonial South Africa. I am glad that I do not sit in judgment because I am hoping for lots of mercy myself. But I feel that the cries of the poor will not be ignored forever. There is a reckoning coming. I may be careful about giving money, but I hope that I will never refuse food.

We had it in mind to go to Queen’s Beach or the Waterfront, but when our bus passed by our apartment, we just couldn’t resist stopping just to drop our stuff off… and just to lie down for a bit… and just to use the heating pad on my shoulders just a bit… about an hour later… we dragged ourselves up and walked over to the waterfront and did our bit of tourism, checking out what a safari

 would cost, taking pictures in front of the ships and touristy stuff and finally riding the overpriced elevator ferris wheel which went around  a whopping 4 times… not counting the fifth time when we got to stop on top and because I truly love my daughter I did not make it rock, not even a little.

 It was this huge, air-conditioned box. No open air, no feeling the ocean breeze…. But the scenery was nice, and there was a calypso band on one side and a group of men singing on the other… okay it was really touristy.. but we were in Cape Town, South Africa and I thought we should do it and it’s for sure that Maura would not have done it without me.