Blackjack!

21 days.
That is all that stands between me and an airplane to Africa.
21 days.
That is all that stands between me and a life changing experience.
In 21 days the me who I've been for 29 years is subject to change.

Will the changes be everything that I expect? Probably not. To be honest the closer it gets, the fewer days, the smaller my count down number gets, the more nervous and uncertain I am. This is not meant to be mistaken as wanting to back out or changing my mind. This is not to be confused with lack of excitement. Simply fear of the unknown.

What will foreign airports be like? What will it be like to see signs in languages I can't even pretend to understand? How easy will it be to find our connecting flight?

What will my first glimpse of Africa be like? Will it be engraved in my mind forever or just a fleeting moment I will struggle to remember? What will Africa smell like? How long will it take to get adjusted to the time change?

My list of questions could go on forever, or I could get there and be absolutely speachless.

In 21 days I will know.

I. Can't. Wait.

ROCK ON!

If you can't already tell Africa, specifically Ngariam, is very important and special to me. I would love for you to be a part of something that I love. If you can make it and would like a ticket to this concert let me know! I have plenty to go around... For only $10 you can make a difference!

30days

Africa is 30 days away today.

The end.

Take off your shoes and walk a mile in mine...

Today April 8, is considered by Toms shoes to be "A day without shoes." In many parts of the world children don't have shoes. They walk to school, they walk to get water, they play, they clean, they do what children do; barefoot. So today, you are supposed to go barefoot and experience a little of what they might.

I did this today. I woke up and got ready for work...put my shoes in my bag...and walked outside barefoot. The ground was cold. I went for most of the day at work barefoot, except for the times when someone might see my feet. As soon as I was out of the building they came back off. I went shopping, ironically for shoes, while not wearing any. All of these things seemed more like fun than hard work. I don't like wearing shoes anyway, so an 'excuse' to take them off is always welcome.

All of these things seemed like fun until I stepped on a broken piece of glass while taking my trash to the dumpster. All of a sudden being barefoot and not having an option to put on shoes or even clean my foot became real. Seeing my foot bleed and feeling the pain was real. Right now as I type barefoot my feet are cold, cold enough that I wish I had socks and shoes on.

Does my little boy ever wish for socks and shoes? In the picture I have of him he is barefoot. His feet are dirty and I'm sure they are cut and callused. Does he have shoes? Maybe he does...maybe like me he prefers to be barefoot. Or maybe unlike me he doesn't have a choice.

Tomorrow I can put my shoes on, heck today at anytime I could put shoes on, but can he?