My Father passed away at the age of 62 never having fulfilled his dreams of travel and adventure after retirement. As a nurse, I have too often seen lives come to an end before people have a chance fulfill their plans and hopes for the future. I decided that it was time for me to do just that. . .live my dreams.  
My first trip to Africa  occurred in 1987. The opportunity to see the wildlife is what drew me initially. Since that trip, I have visited twice. The people, the stunning beauty of the land and the Spirit of the country pulled me back again and again. My last trip there  in 1992 transformed my life.    

We lived for a time with a small group of Maasai on the Kenya/Tanzania border. These people still live much as they did thousands of years ago, herding cattle, sheep, and goats and existing in harmony with their peaceful environment in and around the Great Rift Valley. Tall, proud, aristocratic in bearing and manner, yet loving and somewhat shy, the Maasai have made their way to the present with their ancient customs and the structure of their society preserved to an unusual extent. 

Immersed  in their culture, we witnessed the feasts and ceremonies, the daily work of maintaining the herds, the morning gathering of wood and water.  We looked on and helped as the women cared for the home and young children, beaded skirts and jewelry, and built huts and kraals.   We watched as the warriors' gamed, danced , flirted and protected the village; and as the elders gathered together and contemplated life.  
            &nb sp;                         
We noticed how Maasai youngsters are treasured.  Children of both sexes are treated with the greatest tenderness and love, not only by their parents but by most adults as well.  I realized that the high esteem granted the children is what gives them the self-confidence of adulthood.  
            &nb sp;                
Living with these warm hearted people, I found the inspiration and motivation to simplify and prioritize my own life on the basis of basic needs rather than impulsive wants. I learned to love more, to enjoy being in the moment and to work harder!  I learned that people are the same everywhere. We share the same spirit.    I learned that if the principles of love and acceptance of one another  are followed that in most cases, the outcome is respect for self and others. 
In addition to making a living as an RN, I am an artist.  Since returning from our last visit, I have painted over 10 watercolors of the Maasai and their children. In my paintings I strive to portray their loving spirits.  If God and my life permit, I plan to travel back to stay for an extended period of time to paint, nurse, teach and learn from these wonderful people.

MEMBERS COMMENTS VIEWING 1 - 3 OUT OF 3 COMMENTS From: jaxine 10/24/2008 22:59:27 wonderful blog.  I have never been to Africa, so I paint my dreams.  jaxine From: Rippert 03/13/2008 21:37:34 That is so wonderful and inspiring.  You capture the spirit of what you describe here in your paintings beautifully.  Heather Rippert From: Barbara 02/01/2008 14:18:19   HI Judy: Your story inspired me so much I just wanted to thank you, and share one of my own. I lived in a farming village in the Katmandu Valley of Nepal in 1979 for 4 months.  At the time we only had electricity about 2 days a week and no running water.  The farming village I lived in was an amazing place and shared the interaction between children and adults that you describe in your story.  The country was called a 5th world country because it was 'off the grid' so to speak of the international system of trade.  96% of Nepalese were self-sufficient farmers. People were so proud of their heritage and very proud to be Nepalese.  There was a wealth and richness that I have no words to describe. People were comfortable in their own skin and had a confidence - as I said; there are no words for it in English. Artistically I feel I owe a debt to the Nepali culture (s).  The influence of their use of color is quite apparent in my work. As it was an illiterate culture with over 500 languages (in a country the size of Tennessee), color in the shrines was deliberately intense to convey emotions. The paintings were structured as mandalas so they could tell stories (even those stories varied in the different communities).  And the use of color to elicit emotion and was quite important. There was of course much more to the tradition - but it was the use of color that impacted me so completely. I made a film when I was in Nepal. It was my Sr. Project in college.  I'll have to find a way to transfer it to a format that can be streamed. The film is mostly about the lifestyle of Nepalese people in 1979. But many feel it is a film solely about the craft of living - weaving clothing, processing grain by hand, etc. And of course there is much art and sculpture in the film as well. You cannot walk down a street in Katmandu without seeing many wooden carvings. It's quite amazing.  At any rate, thanks for the memories. Your story really brought a rush of them back to me. Barbara