The fun thing about having a husband who grew up in Africa is all the miscellaneous and interesting artifacts his family has kept. Gail's been cleaning out her guest room to prepare for a bigger bed, and while unpacking boxes, she came across a few things for us to have. One, a marriage chain. All of the pieces are carved from the same piece of wood, and the head on each end represents the husband and the wife. The significance is, the two are still individuals, yet one unit. I loved hearing her tell me the story behind it, watching her smile at the beauty of the symbolism. Despite everything she's gone through, she has hope, resilience, and a sheer love for life and its possibilities. Which is why I admire her. She doesn't give up.
She also gave us an East African batik, and explained the differences between east and west african art techniques, and a carved candlestick and linens from various countries. It's awesome for me having people who know and want to continue to learn about everything - she comes from a line of travelers who've brought interesting items from every country they've been too, and through her life, was able to provide her kids with the same love of culture and the world.
That's something that's important for Ben and I as we go forward. To, when we have kids, and even before and after they're grown - to TRAVEL. To experience life in other countries, and in our own country too.
Now, if we could master the art of traveling to small Virginia towns without being assaulted by the local police force, we'd be set...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPT_3PEjnsE
No comments:
Post a Comment