At a loss

It's important to note that these blog posts do not reflect my entire trip. They are simply small windows providing a glimpse into certain days and certain moments. The negative and the positive experiences are not equally proportioned. I realize sometimes I come off as a complainer, but the truth is sometimes the challenging times are just more fun to write about. I realized this is an important thing for me to note when I received several messages from readers offering to help me get out of Africa following my last post. The truth is that my trip has been filled with ups and downs, all of which will hopefully be told in a book some day. Thanks!

I was all geared up to write something positive about my time in Tanzania, until this happened. I was ready to write about the great experiences I've had here, but this is all that's on my mind. I was very anxious to share many of the 600 photos I've gathered on my camera from my five weeks in Tanzania, but unfortunately for you and for me, someone decided they needed that camera more than I did yesterday morning on a crowded bus to town.

I never gave pickpocketers enough credit. I thought they only existed in the movies. So imagine my surprise when I reached for my camera in my right front pocket and found nothing but lint. I'm not much of one for material possessions anymore, so it's not about the camera, it's about all the time I spent taking the photos. Now I will not be able to share my encounters with lions and rhinos and zebras and giraffes. I will not be able to show you the friends I've made here or the children I've made smile.

I'm trying to come up with something positive out of this and remain mature, because it's not the end of the world. They say pictures are worth 1,000 words. I suppose as a writer my challenge now is to come up with the right 600,000 words to describe what I've seen.