All Creatures Great and Small

God may have created them all, but I do not have to like the ones I've met in Kenya. In some categories, i.e., flying insects, we're making headway--but I am getting ahead of myself....

A female mosquito carries malaria; malaria is a disease I really do not want to get. So I left the US with a year's supply of Malarone, the better malaria drug, taken daily.The caveat was I had to have my liver and kidney functions checked 3 months after starting Malarone. I was at the Norfolk Hotel and the house doctor obliged, bringing a lab tech. The good news is my functions are fine; the doctor's news was scathing. He in effect told me I was poisoning myself and doctors in the US prescribe Malarone much too freely...omg, that gave me a start and also a finish to taking the malaria meds. So I am now unprotected from getting malaria. The Nairobi doctor (my new best friend) did give me a pill to keep on hand in case I get malaria, so I do feel I am ready, just in case malaria strikes.

Yes, the flying insects in our living room are on the decline. In the first term, we would interrupt our Gin game many nights, each armed with a slipper; we swatted at the flying beasts (like over sized wasps, but not bees) and nearly did each other damage. I was responsible for cleaning up the carcasses. But someone told us we should keep our heavy curtains closed at night, emitting no light. Alas, it works....our Gin game has only been interrupted once in the last 3 weeks (see P.S. for update on Gin game).

The real creature low point was the rat. One Tuesday night at 10pm, Shanon yelled: "Come here, I see a mouse....No IT'S A RAT!" With that advance story, you can imagine my lack of enthusiasm to get up and see if I could see a rat. There was tension in the air. We did not see the rat again that night. We did not sleep well. I really did not want to get up in the morning. I banged my way into the kitchen; I observed that the gap under the back door (filled with newspaper and cardboard) had been chewed away from the inside. I could only hope that the rat had found his way out. We found rat evidence and we were especially skittish for a few days. But the rat seems to be on the run--I live with the fear he will return. Rat disposal will certainly not be my strong suit.

I also saw a green snake while walking to school the week before and was non-plussed. I simply veered around the snake and kept walking. I was amazingly brave, I figured; the snake was not on the move, so I talked myself into believing it might be dead. Otherwise it should have gotten out of my way. And not living with that creature in my home makes a big difference.

Maybe our encounter with creatures has peaked. I am more careful, more attentive, and still bang my way into the kitchen each morning. Please God, keep the creatures in their own backyards!

P.S. Gin Rummy
Since January, we have played Gin many times a week, in the evening. On February 28, I was 1945 points behind. On May 12 I was 355 points down....I was on my way to a comeback. But alas, on May 21 I find myself 1740 points down--FYI, the score is 42,025 to 40,285. The year is not over yet....