JD and I have been talking about going someplace new, someplace that neither of us has ever been, for years. But the last several years have been, well, focussed on other priorities.

However, this winter, JD’s good friend Ross let us know he was heading to Africa. Southern Africa to be exact. (Ross was also JD’s boss in the National Park Service, at Lake Powell National Recreation Area – but that’s another story for another time…)

We are good enough friends with Ross that it wasn’t long before JD and I invited ourselves along. Actually, I think it happened during the initial conversation in which Ross told us what he was planning. Either way, being able to join the itinerary that Ross and his traveling companion Jane had already signed up for through Africa Overland Tours certainly made the decision easier! And on Monday, after months of anticipation, JD and I boarded a plane at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport bound for Cape Town, South Africa. Tomorrow Ross and Jane will join us in Cape Town, and on Friday, our group of four will join a group headed for a 21-day overland safari through Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. Lions, tigers, rhinos, giraffes, elephants, hippos, and zebras – oh my!!

No promises as to how often we will post on this blog; it’s an ongoing practice to balance being present for each moment of the adventure, and capturing/writing/posting about it! Usually how this goes is that JD posts directly to our blog’s page on Facebook, and less often, I weave together a (longer) narrative here on the blog itself, which also gets uploaded to our Facebook blog page. Regardless of how or where you follow us, we hope you’ll join us for the adventure!

It turns out that today was a National Holiday in South Africa, Heritage Day. We spent the day exploring Cape Town, particularly the South African National Art Gallery, and the South African National Museum. Entrance was free due to the National celebration of South Africa’s beautifully diverse culture and people!

The energy throughout town was lively, positive and enthusiastic. The Art Museum had exhibits on the many paradoxes and portrayals of motherhood, and another depicting South Africa’s experience before, during, and after apartheid, including a powerful set of videos in which elders (grandparents and parents) who lived through apartheid were discussing it – and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that followed – with their grandchildren. I found both exhibits very moving, in particular for the ways in which they represented women as agents of cultural endurance, resilience, transformation and healing.

JD and I ate lunch at Den Ankers down on the V&A Waterfront (thanks Allen Russell!), where school children were performing songs celebrating the importance of education, democracy, freedom, and knowing and embracing who we are, in building a better future for ourselves and each other. You might notice that they aren’t singing in English, but one (or more) of the other 11 official languages recognized by the South African constitution…

I have always been drawn to the power of story – of who we are, how we came to be, and who we are becoming. I am particularly inspired when people find a way to weave together joy and pain in storytelling. Without both, something just seems to be missing. Maybe it’s just that it leaves me feeling stuck, feeling that I’m “doing it wrong”, when I appear to be the only one who is struggling.

Since I can remember, I have always needed to know that pain and joy can and do coexist. Some of my more difficult moments have been when I thought life was all one, or the other. Artists help me to allow room for both in my own life, to continue weaving them together into something honest, and real.

Having been raised in the southern US amidst its own history of racism, I am particularly grateful for South Africa’s example of being willing to examine our mistakes and mistreatment of each other, while calling ourselves and each other back to our innate goodness, our true nature. Being here provides me with powerful motivation to continue growing beyond my mistakes, hurts and fears. I think we all need reminders of why, and how, to do this. Thank you, South Africa – for offering yours.