Old Boma

Idyllic perfection.  Warm breezes off the Indian Ocean rustling the palms overhead, singing birds and colourful butterflies flashing brightly as they dance amongst the sunbeams of light peaking though the foliage, floating sporadically yet gracefully amongst the petals of flowers, blooming in pinks and reds and strong yellows, open and in unison facing towards the North for their share of the African sun. Chickens cluck, strutting amongst the bushes of this lush garden, coaxing their young ones to keep up, as we read poolside, fresh pressed African coffee steaming on the hand carved tables by our loungers. When the sun grows too hot on my skin, I slip into the cool blue water of the pool, diving deep, embracing the sensation as the water envelopes me, and I draw my cupped hands aft with force and feel the cool water stream against my skin as I glide forward, and I wish to sustain the peacefulness, the perfection of the moment.  My lungs keep quiet for a good while, but eventually prompt me to return to the surface, and after a few laps, I am soon back in my lounger, with my book, and another cup of coffee, even more refreshed.

A family arrives, an older couple, presumably the grandparents, with a young couple, another sibling perhaps and a bunch of children, and judging by their dress, I imagine they are missionaries, still quite common throughout Africa.  I'm saddened when one of the other pilots comments that he simply cannot fathom why someone would bring their family here, to this terrible place, and I remind myself that this fellow is never content, never happy, and my sadness gives way to sympathy, as I simply cannot fathom how one can live looking at everything with such negativity.  When I look upon my good fortune, I wonder, am I incredibly lucky or is it simply my point of view, my perception?   Perhaps seeing only the good is a simplistic approach, but I'll take my happiness and positive thinking over the miserable sorts who see dark clouds in everything before them.  Some people you cannot please, and I leave them to their dismal view, and happily return to my book.