A little story....

This October I turned 30 (grumble, grumble!) but I have begun to embrace the idea of no longer being in my 20s and I have a feeling that being 30 won’t be so bad after all!

For my birthday Boris organized to be home, as he had been traveling all week. After work I returned home so we could head out to a restaurant for dinner.

On the way to the restaurant we stopped by a neighbour’s house (whom I did not know) as Boris told me they had my birthday gift. We were greeted by Mrs. Ouattara who was selling fried potatoes in front of her house, but she jumped up with excitement to lead us into her courtyard. In the courtyard there were cows calmly chewing on their dinner and a bunch of goats off to one side. Mrs. Ouattara reached into the goats and pulled out a baby goat by the scruff of her neck. The little goat was speckled brown and white and very shy. I had a brief moment to meet my goat before it ran back to its mom to feed. My goat is still a little young to leave her mom so she will stay there a little longer which also give us time to build her a place to live.

I have to admit I was a little surprised to be given a goat, though I do think goats are really cute. We stayed with Mrs. Ouattara for a glass of water and then started on our way. The road from her house is of pounded red earth, the sun was setting and kids were out playing. Boris pulled me aside to tell me that the goat was part birthday present, but that it also had another significance…

Boris asked me to marry him!

And of course I said YES!!

Just as he was asking me, and I was holding my breath…there were kids in the background chanting tubabu, tubabu! This made me laugh, and laugh. It was surreal to be hearing the words I have waited for so long, with the chorus of tubabu.

Then the wind picked up! Dust and sand was blowing everywhere, the sky turned black and people started to run for shelter. I had sand in my ears, eyes, teeth and nose. Then it started to pour and we were soaking wet, but I didn’t care! I didn’t care that there was a storm swirling around me, I was so happy that nothing could change that!

We grabbed a taxi and headed into town to find a restaurant. We ended up at a restaurant in which we often go and are starting to get to know the staff. We sat off to the side in one of the private tables and had one of the best meals I have ever eaten here. Delicious BBQ chicken, green beans and fries, we splurged!

So now I have a fiancé and a goat!

[Boris bent the rules a little for my goat as normally he should have
presented a sheep to my father, but I'm not sure how easy it would be to mail a sheep and anyways I like goats!]