This is Africa

A few years ago, Greta and I were invited to join friends for a visit to East Africa. The trip involved a conference in Mombasa, Kenya, on the Indian ocean and then a trip into the Great Rift Valley to a mission station and then to Masai Mara Game Reserve. It involved a long drive into the wilderness, and an overnight with a missionary family in as remote location as I had ever seen. At the time I said I used to think I was a missionary and had lived in some wild places, but this family took the cake.
The next day we drove to to the Masai Mara Game Reserve. From the moment we left the mission compound, we began to see some amazing animals. When we entered the park the animals were abundant beyond imagination. We had not driven 3 miles along a trail until a male lion sauntered out of the bush and walked by our vehicle as if it/we did not exist. He was the "king" and knew it. We saw most of the "big" game that day; lions, elephants, hippo, zebra, giraffe, cape buffalo, cheeta --literally thousands of animals, except the rhino.
When the lion walked by, everyone was trying to get me to roll up the window for fear of being attacked by the vicious beast. Some hours later, as we were about to leave the park, we came upon a herd of cape buffalo resting quietly some distance off the road. Our missionary guide began to tell us that these big cows, not the lions, were the most dangerous animals in the area and that more people were treated in the mission clinic from buffalo attacks than from lions. Buffalo are "just mean" he said. I took his word for it with a grain of salt until I saw this video on YouTube. Here is the link. Take a look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM

My Country

I am unabashedly patriotic. I love my country and am proud to be an American. I fly the flag proudly and still get a bit choked up when they play or sing our National Anthem. I have lived in other countries long enough - over 23 years in Africa- that I appreciate the blessings of being a citizen of the United States. At the same time I try not to be the "Ugly American". Having lived in other countries and having friends from literally all over the world, I appreciate and respect other countries and cultures and understand their national pride.
This Fourth, Greta and I went out looking for fireworks displays and found one at a town a few miles outside of Louisville where we live. I like the small town fireworks displays. The big crowds such as the million or so who attend the now world famous "Thunder Over Louisville" turn me off. It was pleasant to sit back and watch the "Rockets red glare" and reflect on what it all means to me as an American. God bless America!