Quiet Day...

Today is a national holiday in South Africa. Human Rights Day… although we have yet to find someone who knows what it monuments…everyone is glad for the day off of work and school. So we spent the day also on holiday with a beautiful family who has opened up their home for us to stay this week and are spoiling us like mad. We were taken to a fabulous rooftop flea market. Lucky us, we were here the right time for it is only open on Sundays and holidays.

... drums playing

... street performers
…Colors swirling

... so many shapes spilling through, running all into each other
.. the smell of incense burning
... people bustling about
…booth after booth after booth stretching out.
So much creativity and skill.
It was difficult to decide what treasure to claim.

Avery has in her head that she wants an African mask… but when we arrive… she changes her mind to find a carved elephant. Every seller looks into her eager face and draws us in … showing off their goods… and when they find she is looking at elephants… there is a parade of pachyderms coming at us from all sides.
“Spoil her… spoil your little one…” they say.
Finally she decides on the one she wants. It is giant. It is heavy. It is quite expensive.
So she chooses another… a smaller one that is still good sized, but will be able to fit into her suitcase on the plane instead of having to travel on the seat next to her.
I knew she would be sad because this one is also quite expensive… and although it is expected to banter over prices… it honestly is much more than she had available.
But she is hopeful. It is the very one she wanted.
So the negotiations begin and end quickly… 240 rand… 180 rand… 120 rand…
“no” I say “that is a shame but she really doesn’t have that much.”
So he asks me, his bright white teeth peeking out from his smile, “Tell me, how much DOES the dear lady have to spend?”
Avery and I talk about spending all her money on this one wonderful thing instead of the pockets full of cheap trinkets like children often want to do… and she agrees that her decision is a good one…and she tells the man her offer… 100 rand.
He puts his hand on her shoulder and bends down to look her in the eye and says “Well, how about if your elephant costs 80 rand and then you have 20 rand left over to be able to spend somewhere else as well.”

How beautiful.

Billy and I came away with a woven basket and Madyline is saving her money for a drum in Rwanda.

I could have spent hours just browsing about…

Later…after a picnic lunch of cheesy sausages and gherkins… we took a walk through the gardens. Ah…if I ever lived here in Johannesburg, I would spend my hours wandering and meditating and writing in this park… soaking in the serenity. Even if I dont' live here in Johannesburg, I might dream of this place as I walk through the woods back home. That's what it was today... dreamy.


The kids are doing better… still not going to sleep until WAY too late and then a bit short tempered… but they are holding it together amazingly and we are so proud.. and blessed to be able to share this with them… and to have this day of rest with people who have grown dear to us in just a few short days.

Tomorrow we spend the day in Zandspruit.