A bird melodiously twits in the big thick bushes a stone throw away. Faint trumpet sounds that I am sure are from elephants rythimically punctuate the verses.
Downstairs, I hear faint voices from a clearly happy bunch. Between this otherwise calmness, sporadic and exhagarrated high pitched laughs erupt once in a while.
At least 30 Kilometres away we’ve left the rife hustle and bustle of Lusaka city life. We are at Chaminuka Lodge and Nature Reserve for some quiet time; some intimate time. The phone is on flight mode…kept on only for my woman’s new found hobby; selfies.
This outing is sponsored by Vodafone – Zambia. We are one of two couples that where awarded a fully paid for trip on a Valentines Day Special Giveaway couples competition.
But now am alone. Baby has been whisked away by a new found friend. I have just a little over 5 minutes to myself before she is back to tell me another of her never ending stories. The serene air and sweet choruses from the birds consume me into an almost hipnotic trance. I have a lazy stare fixedly laced at the well maintained lawn down the balcony…lost in thought.
Few months from now, I will be married. I have never been down this road before so a tremendous load of anxiety weighs on me. But do not get me wrong, marrying this wonderful woman is a right love decision! So above my anxiety is my excitement.
At this very second, the reason for my worry seems to stem from a comment I read on a post of one of our pictures that went viral on the Zambia social media space.
“Oh wow, cute couple” this one diva wrote. “But a teacher and a nurse is like the new formula for poverty.”
This is a stupid and really absurd comment which should not get even an ounce of my attention on any normal day. ‘Stupid and absurd’ mainly because of how cold and insulting it comes out.
But is Teacher plus Nurse really equall to poverty?
Looking at where I am today, I find myself asking the question; Had we not received the sponsorship, would we have come here? Clearly not! The reason is simple; we can’t afford such a trip.
For as long as we can’t afford staff we want, that fits as a condition the noun ‘poverty’ names right?This then means that the saying has some truth.
This is not the only case. Outside this trip, there are many things that we feel we need that we are not able to pay for. For sure one can call that poverty!
But as I am about to start feeling sorry for myself, I hear a voice in my head:
“I envy your careers you guys. You both have room to upgrade and grow” the voice intones. “Your future is practically in your hands. Some of us our careers are not as elastic as yours. We might look like we are better but we do not have the same chance for growth that you guys have.”
These words are of our Church assigned Marriage Coucellor, a Pilot by profession. The man, repeats these words to us at every session we have with him. Whether the man just tries to make us feel better or not, the words have begun to inspire me and my partner to look at our future in a new way. We often are talking about career growth.
So in this very second, like never before, there is a hunger and fire in me for more. Like a cook with all ingredients in hand, I see how a good meal is all within my reach. I see how it is all up to me and my partner to ‘cook up’ a desired future. It is all up to us to change our story.
As it turns out, what was to make me sad and groomy has got me excited and anxious. I feel like calling the lady that posted that sad comment to just say, ‘thank you.’ I want to say thank you because that post has jotted me out of my comfort chair. I am now consciously awake to that I and my woman have some serious work to do to secure a better future.
As I hear the footsteps of my girl, I give in to a sigh bringing my mind back to my body. She gives me a peck on the chick. Her eyes playful and lovely.
She is not wearing any weave but beauty is unmistaken.
If this natural look can weaken me like it does, what more those days when we will have what we want and not necessarily just what we can afford? How rediant will her skin be treated to a British weather, her head rocking the best weaves money can buy?
“You make me feel complete young man.” That is her voice in my ear.
“Our future, my love,” I wisper back in her ear, “is so bright it burns my eyes.”
John Phiri 