Departure Day - Africa, Take Two

I leave today.

Bwana is off to the south of Africa this time. And Bwana hate hate hates research.

I go to London today and I visit friends until Nov. 25th., then I go to South Africa and while there, all choices about where to go and when have been made by my ex, Steve. But his planning included choosing a special site that works for  us both for my birthday, Dec. 4th because this is NUMBER 65!

We end up in Ukutula Camp in South Africa. From there, Steve goes to Johannesburg and then home, and I pick up an itinerary developed by my travel agent Valerie who made such great choices for me last time.

I am full of anticipation about a close encounters I hope to have with some animals and Steve and I always have fun together. I also have anxiety about traveling—the long flights and one tour I am taking with another person. Last time I was on safari, I had my own truck.

I am also dealing with more anxiety than normal—not a full fledged anxiety attack, just a long low level of anxiety making me feel very flat and dull for the past few days. It's as though I have regressed to the high anxiety state of my youth. BUT, looking out the window on the Canada Line skytrain as we arrived on Sea Island, there was a rainbow and I took it as an omen of good fortune to come.

Really—that rainbow meant a lot, like a sign from God that I am going to get through this. Maybe I will even find my way back to that incredible joy and enthusiasm for travel and life that I found in Tanzania.

Back January 1st.