My sister Donna is on her way to Africa with her long time love….Dr.Keith who is a brilliant and dedicated aids doctor……..she is going with a group of people and doctors…..what a trip…….here is the letter she wrote to the family

 

Hello Family
I am on my way to South Africa. Tomorrow Keith and I leave to go to Cape Town. It's will take us more than a day to get there. He will be attending the international aids conference along with 1000's of other people. I will be touring the country, meeting new people and having new experiences. I am truly excited. With all the madness in the world, with all the changes in my world -- this is such a wonderful time to get totally out of my element and do something new and different. I plan to go to Robben Island as an homage to Steve -- to see where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for so many years. I want to go on a safari -- if only to see nature, to see a world far less impacted by civilization. I fully expect to be changed in some way. I don't know exactly how. But like Obama said the other day to Anderson Cooper --  everyone is affected just stepping on African soil.
I remember when Virginia came back from Africa. How many Americans, either black or white, spent time in Africa in the 50's? She came back and made "DooDoo" -- remember? It was mashed black eyed peas deep fried. She wore her hair natural long before everyone else. We thought it was so odd. She bought me the book "Ti Ti goes to a party" -- my first book about a little African/Black boy that went to a party. How many black children in the '60's or even '70's had a book about a black kid. I wonder what happened to that book.
I am lucky that I will be hanging out with a group of people that have all been to South Africa before. Most of these folks are from cities and know how to be some place, not act like tourists but still be excited about the people and the land.  My friends will be respectful of the differences. We will meet new people, see new things and embrace the differences.
Look forward to pictures and stories from the Motherland -- ain't technology wonderful? I will take all of you on the trip with me -- I always carry you in my heart and mind.
sending you much love, light, peace, happiness, truth, courage, honor, harmony, hope, safe travels, prosperity, purpose, passion, finding new things, meeting new people, going for new adventures, finding new friends, finding new ways, abundance, prosperity, the power of going home
donna

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