Ignite My Soul

Chapter 9 - Coming Home

We are all packed, sharing our last meal. It's a bittersweet event. We had so much fun exploring and getting to know each other, yet it was time to head home. We are all looking forward to seeing our loved ones. Thinking of mine, some will be pleased, and others will not like me much, but so goes life.

I have learned a lot from this trip about myself and how I relate to others, and a lot of times, my tolerance levels felt tested. I gained a lot of insight, but I also felt sadness and heartbroken throughout the journey. Ladies and gentlemen, that is the key to travelling. I repeat, if you return the same person, then you have wasted your money.

While I was in my rich bitch era, I managed to accumulate a couple of things to take home.

I got a pair of socks for Roché, who has an addiction. Considering the circumstances, I have decided to give the Eiffel Tower key ring to my colleague. I got a snowball of Holland and a Paris watch for my dearest mother. I got a Paris lighter for Khaya. Don't ask me why I am already buying the man gifts, and we haven't even met.

On the list of gifts, there's also a Venice fridge magnet mask. An 'I Love Paris' sweater. Holland bottle opener. Amsterdam lighter with strippers for my crazy male colleague. An Italian sweater for my nephew. A deck of Holland playing cards for my uncle and aunt –that's their pastime. My precious Italian watch. My favourite pair of red Swiss Snow boots. Some clothes, two bags, a purse and two leather belts. A pearl accessory set, and you wonder why I never made it to the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre Museum.

Damn! Listing all the above makes me realize that I'm a shopaholic but don't send help yet. It all remains my prized possession and carries lots of memories. It was the best two weeks of my life!

We depart for the airport for an afternoon flight, and we will only land at around 7 am the next day. Langa will be at work, so I have no chauffeur. Nkele and I convinced her sister to drive cautiously and illegally to the airport because she does not have a driver's licence. If she can make it there without getting caught, then Nkele can drive us home.

I survive the long hours by standing, stretching and walking around the flight for some blood circulation. Long flights are a MOFO, if you ask me, but the movies keep you occupied. We land, go through customs and call Nkele's sister. She's requested that we wait half an hour. We go to Wimpy because I miss Bar One waffles. She arrives, and we head home. I can't wait to see Liz and my nephew.

It feels great to be home, but I can't ignore the nagging feeling that something is amiss. It feels like my body is present, but the rest of me is floating on a cloud and not in a good way. We get home, and they drop me off first. Langa has left my house keys with Nkele's sister. Not even my now saggy used to be skinny jeans are making me feel great.

Nkele: "So, friend, knowing you, you will need a nap, but please stop by later so we can look at the photos and download them."

Me: "mmmhhmm, okay."

Nkele: "Friend, I'm sorry about your phone, but at least we got some photos on your other phone that we can download."

Me: "Sure, I will call you later."

The minute I open the gate, I get a kiss and a slap on the face. That could only be Liz. She cannot contain her excitement.

Me: "Hey, Lizzy girl. Mommy is home."

She runs to the end of the yard, comes rushing back and bumps into me before I can even close the gate and lock.

Me: "Lizzy hle! Can you wait till I put my bags down?"

Shem, my poor baby, does not have a tail, so her whole butt is wagging around, ears shot up with excitement. She runs to wait by the door. I open it and walk in, but she pushes right past me to sniff around the house. She circles the carpet 3 times, then plonks herself down, following my every move with only her head.