When the clock struck midnight in Maputo I realized how many explosive devices were left over from past civil conflict. The low overcast sky became a flashbulb over the city as people blew things up. Apparently everyone has dynamite for just such an occasion. There's probably an ACME TNT factory around here somewhere.When you are away from your familiar life at home, your family and friends, it's a little like the NASA picture looking back at Earth from the Moon's orbit. There's your life in a clear blue circle, easy to see, easy to examine. As the bombs go off here I look back on my little blue circle. I see Catherine and Gabby and I feel how much I miss them. I think about our friends and people I know from work, our Mom's and Dad's...Brother's and Sisters...everyone orbits in their perfect place. Everything is as it's suppose to be.
On this midnight, I think about the people who have it all. Around here, mostly I think about the one's who don't. I think about Jose', pictured above, the Q400 Mechanic, who walks with a severe limp from a horrific car accident last year that took his wife away. I think about the cement block, corrugated metal roof 10x10 home with water pouring in from the rain. A cheerful MEX flight attendant lives there with her family. I think about thousands others like it here. I wonder if scenes like the one pictured on top will ever get better. Ever. Even a little bit. I just don't know.
I thought about how thankful I was to come from a structured Airline background as I dodged lightning daggers from the sky yesterday circling over Bazruto Island (pictured bottom), looking for a way into Vilankulo. I think about the people I'm getting to know (Like in the video below), here and look forward to learning more about them and their lives.
Happy New Year
pw
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