A Memory
Africa, oh Africa!
The “Heart of Darkness” cradled me to sleep so long ago, nestled in a bed curved with age, between my parents.
Their hearts beat in sync with mine as the nocturnal life closed in around us.
Padded paws pressed on the cool dirt below our window-imprinting a signature for me to discover in the morning: a leopard.
The vast Serengeti sang us to sleep under starry skies and milky ways. I have never seen so many stars…
…
I woke with a start and saw the tell-tale circular glow of a flashlight held by my father’s hand. I heard a scurrying and scratching of…something…behind our heads…down the wall…A RAT!!! “Templeton!” I yelled. My mother cringed-he was huge-3 feet at least, or so it seemed.
…
5am came quickly-we rose to start breakfast as my father poured coffee on the back porch.
I can’t remember what my mother and I were concocting, but I know it involved bananas. Truthfully, my memory was scared out of me by the loud, thunderous ROAR!! of the old male lion from the pride that resided up the road. I remember my ears buzzing from the sound and my mother’s arms gripping me to her. Dad was on the back porch! The sun was rising as I raced to the back screen door.
…
My father shushed me before I could explain.
He quietly opened the door and beckoned me to him.
I should have known what he was getting me into for he knew these animals well. After 10 years of studying them he understood their behavior.
As I stepped out of the door I heard a huff to my right and Dad took my hand reassuringly. A lioness-a big, beautiful lioness gracefully planted a heavy paw next to our ground-level-not-fenced-in porch. She turned the corner and was now, oh, 10 feet diagonally to the right of us. I froze. I distinctly remember feeling like the blood had entirely drained from my body—I also remember telling my father that he was INSANE! But, he wouldn’t let me go. Our new furry feline friend looked right at us. Right at ME. Her beautiful eyes pierced through me as if she could see my soul. As terrified as I was, my eyes welled with tears; it was a breathtaking moment. She took a piece of my heart with her as she eyed us up for several minutes. She meandered about, calm and unafraid. After one more glance she strolled off into the tall golden grass and disappeared.
…
I yelled at my father, “Why did you do that??!!” My 12 year old brain could not decide whether I should cry or laugh. He explained that he wanted me to understand why he loved Tanzania so much. My father had a connection to the animals and the natives there. He had great respect for them and they for him. I suppose he was much better suited for life their. What I’m not sure he realized was that Africa had stolen my heart long ago—from the first time I laid eyes on the slides he brought home, I was hooked. My life revolved around Africa and by the time we actually visited as a family I already knew nearly every African animal and how and where to find them.
…
This was my childhood-one that I know I was fortunate to have. It educated me in more ways than school ever could. Just like my father, I feel that amazing land call to me-begging to hold me under its dark, starry skies and wake to the most magnificent sunrises you could imagine. In some ways it feels more like home than home does. My father couldn’t have known it then-but the love I had for that land helped me to understand why he finally took off running back to her arms.
That mysterious land kept him for good until he returned to me as dust. Part of him resides on the ledge of Ngorongoro Crater—a fitting location and one of his favorites. One day I will finally return to that land we loved so much and I know that once again my father will be right beside me to share in yet another amazing adventure, every step of the way.
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