First Contact Part 2

Wasn't sure what to write today. The coot cook-off we had on Sunday or my walk this morning. Ok, if you're curious....Steve and the boys nabbed 5 coot off the lake Saturday morning (well, he shot them, the boys hiding under a green "camoflauge" banket in the bottom the canoe, at 6:30 am!). We didn't know what they were at first (was it legal???) and then the bigger question, how to cook them! Recipes ranged from boiling it in an old boot and eating it together (helps the taste) or cooking it with onions and when its done, throw away the coot and eat the onions! Didn't look good, especially when we had asked some friends to come help us eat them before we knew what we could do with them....

We didn't have to worry, our friends were graciously and helpfully exuberant about its taste (after it was marinated to death with teriakyi sauce) and we had a great visit. Needless to say we had some fish and hot dogs available just in case!!

As for my walk, in half a daze (maybe it was that coot yesterday...)I got the kids to school. The wind is cold today, geese overhead honking and Nate pointed to the sky "Look mom, that one is taking over the lead!" Even from these city blocks, if we listen, we can hear them going by. While I said good bye to the boys, I glanced down the sidewalk to see if "Gazelle" was happening by. Like clockwork, she was there, this time wearing a backpack instead of a purse. Was this my chance? Looking toward her as she came up, she smiled...I realized she was missing a tooth in the front. I knew I looked like I just got up from a crazy dream but I went for it... "Hi, how are you?" She actually didn't look that tall from this close up, I thought. We briefly chatted, she takes her 2 kids to preschool and goes on to her school, English learning. She's from Sudan (she smiled as she said this) BINGO! I was right! She found it difficult to speak too much in English, so we switched to Dinka and had a great visit (just kidding!!!!). Gazelle has turned to Rachael. I expect we will meet daily, briefly. I hope she learns enough english to tell me her whole story, I thought as I followed Cyclone to her next sniffy spot. Sudan, Myanmar, Vietnam, Rwanda...the world of stories on our sidewalks. I can't imagine the pain, loneliness, courage of those we often pass by. I'm glad I know her name now, and that she knows mine.