Yellow House

So a crazy thing happened on the way to the forum.. (well town really.. I just wanted to use that line).

I was walking along the track behind the school, working on being present and minding my own business. Walking I might add because I was told by my coordinator I look "bigger today" and Silas added that you could see my shape (this is the first time I have ever come to work wearing trousers)!!! Anyway, none too flattered I headed to town and I see these children and they start running away, except for one who has dropped to the ground and is squealing and I notice he is holding onto the end of a snapped electricity cable. I mean. Excuse the simplemindedness of me... but all I could think was 'I can't believe this'

I grabbed a branch and try and help the boy (who is still screaming) separate himself from the wire... which he does and then he just gets up and runs off. It was surreal. I stood there, tree limb in hand and had this strange conversation with two adults who were present about this wire. They didn't understand. The guy told me he thought the child was being beaten. Great. And in conclusion. You know what we did about it? Nothing. I did nothing. But the thing was, I had enough faith in the scientific principle that wood does not conduct electricity when there was a child attached to the wire, but without that there was no way I was going to attempt to relocate it. So I left in shock, but now I wonder is it only a matter of time before the next child plays with it.. why didn't I move it off the path????

So I have spent the time since reflecting on the brevity and transient nature of life. A frequent thought pattern for me lately... and the reason why I have taken to telling everyone I love them recently. Phil thinks 'I love you' tends towards meaningless nonsense (here I go misquoting him again) and believes it is in actions not words. And while I agree, I think you should still tell people, becuase what if that's your electricity wire.. and what if the current is considerably stronger than it is in Kenya.. I'd still want to have said it.

The things is, on the bus with Jason the other day I actually said look at how low those electricity wires are hanging.. and the only reason I knew that you had to separate the child from the wire with a stick is because at Livingstone Primary School in 4th grade we actually had a lesson on this very scenario. I can't believe that just happened.

Furthermore in Nanyuki, Claire and I decided that after death by motor vehicle accident, we were most likely to die by being electrocuted in the shower. In the kinds of classy establishments we stay in, the shower head is connected to an electric charge that heats the water.. it's a questionnable arrangement at best. Perhaps one should shower in clogs?

So on a cheerier note. No. I don't have a cheerier note today. Holy fucking shit. That was one lucky kid. I'm just so glad he didn't die. I don't even know, can you give CPR to someone who has been electrocuted?