Home > Stories > Our True Stories > Lamu Lady - From my African Journal

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On the east coast of Africa, just beyond Mombassa, there is an island called Lamu. Stan & I went to an even smaller island within rowing distance from Lamu to visit the 89 year old grandmother of the woman who had been our guide on a tented three week safari in the Masi Mara. She was the only white woman living on the island and her thatched roof house was on the beach.

On the boat to island off Lamu, Africa

We took a small canoe-like boat to the Island, found her home and began our search. Stan and I called out to her but there was no answer. We cautiously peeked into the various rooms of the open hut. When we looked into the bed room, we were shocked to see an elderly woman with rosy cheeks and blood-stained gauze wrapped around her head and legs. We hastily explained why we were there and asked what had happened to her. She very brightly explained that she had fallen on some beach coral a few days before and had drug herself home. When we offered our help, she assured us that she was absolutely fine & just embarrassed that she had been so clumsy. She wanted no help and she definitely didn't want anyone to know.

The question that I really wanted to ask her was whether she ever became lonely or depressed being the only white woman on a tiny African island. "Oh my, no", she giggled, Why sometimes I'm so excited about all I have to do,I can't sleep at night."

The lesson she taught me and later my students was that, as we continue our efforts to age beautifully, all our sleepless nights can be due to our excitement over life!

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