Oh, By the way

Sitting in my favourite room in the great kingdom of Rongai, I wonder what I did to get here.

I'm tired and aching in muscles I didn't even know I have. There's a certain camp I've been helping out in and it's crazy how many ways there are to work out.
In this achiness and soreness though, I started to really introspect about some things I've seen myself do at camp. Like when did I become the overly competitive human that wants my team to crush all the other teams in the games?

When did I become the person acting in mimes? Or the morning person that shouts for people to wake up before the sun rises? When did I become the person looking for gaps to fill because I want things to run smoothly?

Where did I learn how to deal with crying girls? Last I checked I was completely clueless about these things. Feelings were for the weak and this was Sparta!

 When did I become sympathetic and observant of what people need? I smile these days. When did that happen?
 Now I actually talk about myself. And in those experiences, it's like an outer body experience where my tongue loosens and I can't stop it. When did that shift take place?

 This is my twenty first post, did you know?  And before I go any further, mostly because I can't keep it to myself (udaku), did you guys read the Friday daily nation newspaper? Last Friday's. Because we were on it. All 188 words of a blog review (Yes of course I counted). Yep, we're a fully recognised people now.

Someone asked me something about my writing goals and I didn't know what to say. We actually have to think about such things now. Crazy right? Who knew? How did I get here.

Hanging out with friends I've only known for months I think back to the time I would have written each of them off as superficial friends and kept them there. Who knew they would be the people I would be with when Manamana musings takes a step from the shadows. Who knew they would be the guys I'm dancing my happy dance with.

Now we have whisper sessions, (even if some of them can't whisper to save their lives) where we open up about parts in our lives we would rather keep to ourselves.

But, this post wasn't about my cool friends. Even if they are, and they help me when I don't want another morning of jogging or another afternoon of games under the sun.

 Neither was the post about the fact that we were in the newspaper (we really were!) And I was so excited my checks hurt from smiling, and I didn't eat or sleep that night. In fact (now that we're on the topic) that Friday I was having a difficult day. And I had just sat down when my sister calls me up oh-so-casually and asks if I read the newspaper today.

I don't even read texts, but I don't tell her that, I tell her no, and she tells me to get my hands on one. To which I dutifully scour the earth for a newspaper at 5 in the evening. I ask a lady and she laughs at me saying

" You're looking for today's newspaper at this time? You should just save your money and wait for tomorrow's. Or look in the butchery."

Which sounds worse in Kiswahili. Eventually I miss the paper and call my sister. I thought for a split second that she wanted me to look at the obituary. That she was telling me that my second cousin somebody twice removed passed away and I'd have to ask her.

"Who now?"

And she'd say
"She was in there the last time we were in shagz"

And to save herself the trouble of having to explain what my distant cousin looks like, she wanted me to find out through the obituary.

Then I thought maybe my sister was on the newspaper, or my brother. For doing something great and amazing like always. So she was subtly telling me that she was a big deal and i should stop taking her and her food for granted (rolls eyes at star children everywhere).

Then I thought that my small sister was in the news for doing something crazy during KCSE like charming all of her invigilators to bring her small meals and snacks in between her exams (please pray for her as she does them by the way).

I never once thought it was me. Eventually she sends me the photo of our page. (I'd tell you the page and what it says but I want you to look for it)

And that's when I went crazy. I didn't even read the review I just saw the name of the blog and lost it. My big forehead shone even more than usual by the time I was done dancing for joy. And when I sat down to really read it and think about it, all I could do was ask

"How did I get here?"

Okay yeah, fine, I'll admit it, it's really been about how we made it to the big leagues. Do expect a proper post on/before Sunday.

And just to sound proper, thank you for your continued support. I hope you're dancing your happy dance.





Photo by Mugoya Mokua