What shall we say?
I am speaking to Keita who is lying next to me, resting, in the guest room at Eva's once more. I came back from Djenné yesterday courtesy of the lovely 4X4 of Sidi, the Dogon guide/ chauffeur who accompanies the people who are involved in the library project. This time it was Maria Louisa, the Italian Conservator who is involved with our new conservation/cataloging project at the Djenné Manuscript Library who had spent three days working with me and the library staff, staying at Hotel Djenné Djenno. I was very glad to be able to be included in the return trip to Bamako- it certainly was a lot less challenging than a bus journey...
I had spent a few nice days in Djenné while Keita remained in Bamako in the bosom of his family continuing with his growth factor injections. I needed to oversee some work in the studio and at the same time providence had arranged for a number of interesting people at the hotel: there was Hans the Dutch/Swedish entrepreneur who comes every year, as well as a nice young Belgian chap and there was Andrea of course. We had lingering dinners under the stars and for some reason this combination of people made for a very jolly time with much laughter ...although always there is the shadow of Keita's illness which returns to my mind every few minutes.
I returned to Bamako refreshed and found Keita about the same as when I left him: he is very weak and he has now finished the injections to try and kick-start his blood count. Tomorrow he will make a new blood test to see whether he will finally be able to start the Indian medicine....
"Well" said Keita. "Remember that the picture was hanging at a favourable angle last time at La Senegalaise. You could always say that.?"
He too has caught my idea that somehow the picture is a barometer of our fortunes.. And indeed, it has looked worse at times in the past.
posted by toubab at 7:37 PM
7 Comments:
Tous nos voeux et espoirs pour Keita. On est contents de voir que Djenne est à nouveau pour toi un lieu de ressourcement.
Et que ce tableau de La Sénégalaise reste accroché bien droit!!! Amitiés.
Monique et Pascal
I love the implied poetry in Keita's image of the image - slightly downward inclined, but full of life and colour. Thoughts with you both as ever.
Such a difficult and challenging time for both of you. I think the symbolism is also common when we face something that makes little sense. We look for puzzle pieces that can help us see the big picture.
Thank you for looking in and for your support. It really does help to feel we are not totally alone!
8 years after we left Djenné we still read your blogs & hope to come back one day. Our thoughts are with you.
All the best wishes from our hearts. Wir denken voll Liebe, Sorge und Hoffnung an Keita und Dich. Es gibt einen so schönen Text von Dietrich Bonhoeffer, den ich Dir schicken möchte:
Von guten Mächten wunderbar geborgen,
Erwarten wir getrost, was kommen mag.
Gott ist bei uns am Abend und am Morgen
Und ganz gewiss an jedem neuen Tag.
Sei umarmt Hinnerk & Elisabeth
Thak you so much Agnes, how nice that you are still following Djenne Djenno I do hope we will see you again in Djenne.
Und Danke sehr liebe Elisabeth und Hinnerk fur diesen schonen und wahren Text.
Post a Comment
<< Home