Fifteen minutes later, we stopped at the ranger station to do paperwork, take bathroom breaks, photograph birds, and take selfies.
As we crossed the plains in the near- dark, I got into my transit routine and gathered my things and packed them in my backpack. I was sitting in the back seat with various other luggage and the cooler, and my requisite Tanzanian curio shop purchases strewn about. Where were my binoculars? I found the case, but no binocs. I used my flashlight to search, began fretting, asked the other passengers. Irish Brian, who turned out to be an excellent spotter, knew I had them at the elephants but hadn't seen again. I fretted that I had left them in the restroom but I was sure I wouldn't do that; I am trained to be aware of my things and I have been pretty sharp. Maybe I am losing it!
The Masai do not steal. I let a curious Masai man try on my TAG outside the curio shop and knew he wouldn't do a runner. So it would be at the station on the way back but I wanted the hotel to call and they could not be bothered. Then again some awful tourist- and there were a lot at this hotel- would probably nab them in a happy score.
It bothered me all the way to camp and I even used mediation breathing techniques I was foisting on joe to help relax to enjoy the night drive..
I kept cavetching about it all night, looked at my empty handed selfies at the ranger station, checked my pack again, nothing.
Ok, Sherlock, can you figure out the mystery?
In the morning when we popped the barbie camper top, I stood quickly and hit my head on the roof. Buddha was telling me to be present and I saw my binocs lying on the roof behind me.
There are a lot of lessons for me here and I shall meditate on the experience later. Why some material thing got in the way of enjoying my once in a lifetime safari experience.
Yes, Buddha would not sweat your Google glitch, your misplaced binoculars and your lousy SA experience. As my friend photographer John White would say, "Stay in flight!"
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