In Rainbows

Yesterday was my last night sleeping in the desert under the star-filled Namibian sky, this time while travelling at approximately 60 mph. It was a glass cockpit of sorts on wheels; I rode in the very front seat of a double-decker bus with my head propped up against the window in front of me. We journeyed for hours upon hours in the savannah through eastern Namibia all the way to the end of the Caprivi Strip. I was accompanied in my row by 3 Peace Corps volunteers who had recently been evacuated from Madagascar after its recent coup-d’état. Their names were Jeff, Travis, and John.

I set out to for the Falls today because I had unfinished business with a certain bridge there. I forbade recording of the event of any kind because I wanted this only to be about my connection to the jump—the incredible fear, wonder, and uncertainly—not to be reduced to another ego-boosting endeavor. I wanted to be clear about my intentions more than anything else and just be present.

Jumping through rainbows, just a shadow on the canyon wall, shrouded in mist, “the smoke that thunders,” river rushing beneath me, “staying” with the fall, SMILING, the anxiety was gone this time…

Earlier today, I had an interesting conversation with a Namibian friend of mine--

      Me: “So ist das Leben manchmal…”

      Llewellyn: “I don’t understand. What does that mean?”

      Me: “I don’t exactly know. If you find out, can you tell me?
              Promise me that you will tell me…”

Swinging in the canyon and then later dipping my feet into the mouth of the Falls, feeling closer to life than ever as the sun peeked through the clouds, I think I have a better sense of what it could mean…

Es ist einfach so.

And now – Thinking Zim.

       And DR Congo.