Mary waiting to be operated on – notice how worried she looks. In South Africa you never know what you are going to find on your lawn when you back out. This good size slab of beef and 5 or 6 other of his friends were trimming the grass in the dark. Another sight I do not expect see when we get home are monkeys sitting on signs. This sign is for the new high school they are building just a couple of blocks away. Can you find the monkey?

Sunrises and sunsets are very beautiful at this time of the year because of all the particles in the air from the burning of cane fields and wood lots. Patriarch Jabba with the Nyawo family and YaYa Mathe – at least most of them look happy about getting their blessing. This nice lady and others push their ice cream carts through the streets day after day. I talked to her about how long has she been doing this and she told me 21 years. She started in Durban. I imagine she pushes her cart many Ks each day to make a living for her family. She sells the best ice cream we have found – Walls Magnum Bars only here they are just called Magnum Bars.

14 June 2010 – Monday

Some P-day! Mary called to tell me that she was not getting out of the hospital today so I made a long list of things to do. Some could be taken care of by telephone but there was still a lot that could not. I bought and took a food order to Enseleni. While I was there I dropped off a note from the Hafens at the Seokas and stopped by mama Zulu’s to give her the material for three more curtains for the windows in the library. She was happy to have something to do for the church.

I stopped by the hospital to see Mary and deliver some things she asked me to bring. She is feeling fine but is not looking forward to the surgery to put in a new drain so she can use the portable pump. After lunch and a nap, I went back to see her and she was again asleep. I told her that she should be well rested by the time she gets out.

About the time I was getting ready to leave her they came in and said they were taking her to the operating theatre. So I waited until they were wheeling her out and said I would see her at 7:00 during visiting hours. I ran some more errands – there seems to be a never ending supply – I decided to go back to the hospital and wait for her to come out of surgery.

I had a nice long wait but the smile on her face when she saw that I was there was well worth it. I did not stay long after that because there were too many nurses trying to check her out and get her plugged in. Later I did call to see how she was feeling and to wish her good night.

Cindy called from Disneyworld to check on her mother and we had a nice talk. I also got to talk to Krista who seemed to be having a great time. They will be heading home tomorrow.

I spent part of the evening cleaning up the living room – it really needed it because my bachelor life style is not very neat. I still need to attack the kitchen and the bedroom but that will have to wait until tomorrow.