Aching Backs

Sorry it's been awhile.
I've been crazy busy, now that the summer weather is here, working in the gardens. Still trying to sort out pictures, put together a slide show and produce my book; plus get letters written to my African children, I've received 2, plus 2 report cards since being back.
But working in the gardens has really got me thinking. I'm so sore, especially my legs and back from the digging (you know - lift that bale, tote that barge), and bending, and pulling weeds, that I can't help but wonder how the women of Africa manage! If they get sore, hurt, or even just tired, they can't run to the doctor and ask what is the matter; they can't take a few days off to recuperate. Their families depend on them and the HARD work it takes, every day to make life livable there. Fetching water, usually a couple of times a day, collecting firewood, grinding corn or nuts for meals, working in the gardens, building homes,the list is endless for them. How do they manage? Must be perseverance and an inner fortitude. I think I have that, but I must not have it to the extremes those ladies do, because I have to take a break now and again as I walk around bent over like a crippled person, ouching and muttering about being sore. I have my little rottotiller to use....they have these...

I have decided that these women of Africa are my heroes!