All Things EARTH... part 2

[Sailor_Sally]

I also have felt a gap in my wardrobe . We have a very active social life so I have a decent amount of nicer casual clothes for those events and they are what go in the suitcase for most cruises . I also wear yoga pants and tops a lot as I hit the gym three times weekly . What I am missing is something between nicer casual and yoga pants for running earrands or very very casual events .I am tending to wear a few outfits that don't make the grade of very nice casual anymore  and I am not really happy with that .

Happy Birthday Les !

[Sailor_Sally]

By the way I am glad I went to Cuba last year as it looks like they are stopping the cruises to Cuba .

[laurspag]

First, happy birthday to Les!  It looks like you are having a wonderful time, Melody.  Sunshine does wonders.

 

Anita, I love that nail color.  I think the reason having my nails done for vacation is such a big deal to me is twofold: I never give myself the time to do it normally, and secondly, my manicures flat out do not last.  On occasion, I can get 3-4 days but not normally.  So when I go on vacation, I get a gel manicure.  I've really been thinking a lot because last year, my daughter talked me into doing my nails once and it lasted somewhat decently.  I think I may not always do it right, or when I get to a salon, maybe the nail polish is old or something. That would explain the inconsistency.  I don't think I could get a whole week out of a manicure though.

 

Pam, I can relate to what you are saying for a number of reasons.  For me, it's work, home, socializing, some formal events, cruising...then 4 different seasons.  I feel like I have a lot of clothes, but they just don't work together.  I have been trying really, really hard to figure out where the gaps are and to fill them.  It is so hard sometimes.

 

Take work pants, for example.  I wear dress pants to work very frequently.  I'm lucky when I find brown, but hardly ever find any other earth color.  

 

Then, I want to wear something with those brown pants that doesn't make me scream changing leaves, lol.  Jackets are hard to find that aren't black.

 

But I have the whole outfit thing going on too.  I want it just right.  Things need to go together in a certain way.  Margaret said it perfectly once when she said it was like wearing a uniform.  I have all sorts of things on Pinterest about business casual, smart casual, business formal, etc.  

 

I have found myself very glued to my sports, so I have a variety of Red Sox and Syracuse University apparel to meet my different needs.  Most people have 2 or 3 tshirts, lol.  I don't wear "regular" tshirts even.  So other than sports apparel, I'm really struggling.

 

I just want to look nice! 

[Sailor_Sally]

I have taken to buying a whole outfit that I see advertised .The pants, the top and even the jewelry . This has really helped giving me outfits I am happy with that I can grab at a moments notice .

[awhfy]

17 minutes ago, Sailor_Sally said:

I have taken to buying a whole outfit that I see advertised .The pants, the top and even the jewelry . This has really helped giving me outfits I am happy with that I can grab at a moments notice .

I’ll do the same Sally; then you don’t have the fight of finding something to go with it!

[Anita Latte]

Laurie...I really thought of you with this polish. I feel like you wear more classic colors...especially on fingers...and I know we are on the same page with wanting to wear the good Earth colors all year while not feeling like we're looking like it's the fall season all year. Finding those summery warm, muted colors so that you can still feel Earthy without feeling Autumny. It hit me that this color I shared could be like the Earth equivalent of "rose". It's why I was mentioning pink...but rose is definitely where I would put this color...except it isn't rose...it is still a rust color. It's Earth Rose.

 

Figuring out outfits within a capsule wardrobe idea is a real challenge. Buying the whole outfit definitely makes it easier to have a whole outfit figured out and to wear something that feels really put together well...but that can make it hard to wear anything but the outfit as planned. How to play with your clothes so that you have many outfits...that's the idea behind all these capsule wardrobes. I'm not skilled there either...it's something that I'm working on, because I do want to have a more streamlined wardrobe...not a collection of outfits.

 

For my part...I'm finally getting a frame of reference to help me. I've been stalled in outfit planning in the past because I end up with favorite pairings. A certain shirt is my favorite to go with a certain bottom. That outfit is appropriate for a particular occasion...the idea then, is to figure out how to wear that same top or bottom with a different pairing for a different occasion...and recognize that it's ok to just have one outfit that works for the one occasion (using that particular top or bottom). I think travel is complicated because you have the same occasion over and over again. IDK if I'm making sense, but let's just imagine going to dinner in the MDR. You have an outfit that you like for the MDR...with a travel capsule, you want to wear the bottom again with a different top to go to the MDR on a different night. It's a struggle to figure out another top that you like just as much with that same bottom to do the same thing. That's hard.

 

Not on vacation...you go out to eat. You wear your happy MDR outfit...for a night that is generally a comfortable temperature, no inclement weather. You can create a different outfit with the same bottoms and a different top for hotter or colder weather...for a more fancy or less fancy restaurant...for a more special occasion...etc. When you change the reason for wearing your outfit, it can be easier to create that different outfit that you like just as much with the bottom or top...but for me, I have issues creating a second outfit that is for the same reason that I am as happy about wearing. That's when it is easier to just have a completely different outfit that you might also wear for that same reason.

 

OMG...is this too much in the head talking?

 

When trying to streamline a wardrobe...the ideal is to have items that cross all different occasions. That great pair of pants that you can dress like this for the office, like that for a night on the town, or in another way to just be out running errands. That's this whole aspect of styling that is really a skill. It's not hard sometimes...I think it's quite difficult all the time!!

 

I booked another cruise...it satisfies a bucket list item for me. I want to experience an aft facing cabin with a balcony. I found a cruise out of Miami...a shorter cruise that only goes to the two different private Royal beaches, Labadee and Coco Cay. And we got an aft facing cabin on it! I've been watching the cruise pricing daily and there was a $200 dip in the price so I snagged the aft balcony. It isn't until January 2021 though...LOL.

[Anita Latte]

I keep meaning to bring up this product...this is a nail polish Top Coat:

 

https://www.sallybeauty.com/nails/nail-polish/top-and-base-coat/dry-fast-top-coat-.5-oz/SBS-215000.html

 

Mom first introduced me to this. This top coat makes a huge difference for me in how long my manicures last. The smell of this product reminds me a bit of a clear varnish for wood? Something that you would use on top of stained wood...it's pretty strong, but the smell goes away after the clear coat dries. This isn't an inexpensive product and when it came time for me to purchase another top coat, I didn't purchase this myself...but after seeing the difference in how long my manis were lasting, I did get it for myself.

 

Mom also found this product:

 

https://dermelect.com/immaculate-nail-cleanse-prep/

 

A little goes a very long way. You brush it on your nails and it almost immediately goes away...a bit like witch hazel. It looks like it evaporates, but it leaves behind a great looking nail surface. If you think about painting your nails in the same way that you think about painting around the house...most of the work is all about prep. If you have prepped your surfaces well, then the paint works the best.

 

I do a cuticle treatment. Pushing them back and cleaning off that part of the bed of my nails. If needed I also do one of those buff sanders to smooth out the nail surface. Nail cleanse product. Base coat. At least two coats of polish...trying to do more thin coats rather than any thick coats. Then the top coat. 

 

I'm being very hard on my hands and nails right now. All the work I'm doing around the house with the moving preparation involves banging my hands into things a bit and just simply handling things all over. What I know from past experience is that it is really helpful for the health of my nails for me to keep them painted in this process. The paint and other product are really helping to protect my nails from getting too banged up. So, yes, I might chip my polish...but the point is that my nails themselves aren't taking direct hits.

 

Laurie...you're words were well chosen. "Give myself time" and that is exactly what I am trying to do. I am currently living in the middle of work, in a sense...DH is helping, of course, but I am the one largely responsible for what all is entailed in this relocation. It can be difficult to take a break when surrounded by all the to do items constantly...and doing my nails helps me with this. It helps to basically be a little helpless to do ANYTHING as I sit and wait for my nails to dry and cure, etc., and take time to not rush through the process too much so that I do a good job too. I find myself happy to take that time for myself, because I DO see my hands as I go about my day and take care of business. And I find myself much happier seeing happy nails at work rather than ragged uncared for hands.

 

I'm working on my attitude quite a bit these days...and in the expectation that I am counting on my hands to do a lot of work for me right now, I want to keep them in tip top condition and take care of them so that they can continue to do good work. It may seem a bit out there...almost personifying my hands as separate from myself...but that, in a sense, could describe my viewpoint. Having a sense of gratitude toward having such good tools (my hands) to do what I need to do to accomplish my current project and goal. 

[MJC]

Pam, I've been thinking about your post all week. For me, I think some of the issues you describe are best considered for me in light of my responses to the Style Statement book. For our recent safari, a capsule wardrobe was really essential, but certainly not my preference. I think it is not satisfying for me for several reasons on a cruise or just for life in general. Even when things mix and match well, I always have favorites, and favorite combinations, and I KNOW I would never be happy with a selection of neutrals and a handful of scarves. At some point we have to take all these theories and strategies and find a way to distill a workable solution that takes into account what makes us happy. In general, any dissatisfaction I have currently has more to do with my weight than my actual wardrobe, which is doing what I need it to for now.

 

With new purchases, I try to think what jewelry that I already have will go with the new item. It can help me to understand whether the item is right for me... if I don't have anything that goes, perhaps it is the wrong color or style? Is it something that I will actually wear to one of my usual activities? Does the neckline work for me?

 

Melody - Happy belated birthday to Les! It looks like you are having a lot of fun. I love your beach looks.

 

I don't have much difficulty going from an "MDR dining" look to a casual day look. I am happy wearing a "dinner" top with capris or shorts or a skort for daytime wear. But perhaps being a city girl means that my daytime looks are on the more polished end of things, at least the ones I wear out of the house because I never know who I might run into (one of my students? someone DH is on the board with? a work colleague? yes all these have happened). I am happy in one of my Lucky tshirts and yoga pants or shorts around the apartment, though. I think I have mentioned that I only wear gym clothes to the gym.

 

Anita, that is a beautiful nail color. I must say that I understand what you describe about your hands, taking care of them and honoring the work that they are doing for you. In a way I have been thinking about my knees in a similar way, though I am operating from a position of recovery not strength. I do think about what I hope they will help me accomplish for the day, and how I can preserve, strengthen, rest, or otherwise care for them so that we can do what we need to. Or want to. Without doing any damage. And still have something left for the next day, and the next....

 

I'm excited for you to have an aft balcony experience. We loved our aft cabin on the Emerald Princess western Caribbean. I would have one of those all the time if they weren't so expensive (and hardly ever on sale). I like the aft view and the white noise of the wake. We don't have issues with seasickness and actually enjoy some motion on the ship, it makes us feel like we're sailing.

 

 

 

[awhfy]

I've Always done my nails. My relaxing time (when I worked) was Sunday evening when I’d redo my manicure for the week. Now I do them when I feel like it (usually every 10 days to 2 weeks). Anita, I’ve used that Top Coat for years, worth every penny. I caught a bad skin cancer very early on my finger because I was so diligent about manicures. 

 

Aft cabins, love them!  We had our first aft on Royals Liberty on a western Caribbean, it was deck 7 & the superstructure of Royal’s Freedom class is such that we couldn’t look down to the water (we weren’t real pleased). Our b2b this coming February is on Celebrity Reflection in a C1 aft (center on Deck 11). I know I’ll be able to see the water!  Melody

[MJC]

Found this pretty dress while surfing....

 

 

 

https://www.whitehouseblackmarket.com/store/product/carmen+marc+valvo+embroidered+lace+sheath+dress/570249896?color=2102&catId=sale

[awhfy]

6 hours ago, MJC said:

Found this pretty dress while surfing....

 

 

 

https://www.whitehouseblackmarket.com/store/product/carmen+marc+valvo+embroidered+lace+sheath+dress/570249896?color=2102&catId=sale

Love the dress, not crazy about the sleeves tho

[MJC]

Day 11, finale

We arrived at our next (and last) lodge in time for a late lunch. Even though I had studied all the accommodations online before we chose them, Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge was a delightful surprise because the site was so spectacular. The long driveway climbed uphill for a bit, and we could see elephants up above dotted all over the hillside in the shade of various trees, before we came to a small parking area. We entered the main lodge through a nondescript opening in the tented part. It didn't look like much.

 

We stopped at the check in desk and dropped off our bags. Ahead was a round open-air area, but we were pulled forward through it by the astounding semi-circular panoramic view of the Serengeti laid out before us. I think I was saying OMG over and over, it was so unexpected and so beautiful.

 

 

The open area was used in the evening for the dessert buffet, and in the morning they laid out food and beverages for us to pack our own box lunch.

 

From left to right there was a bar area, lounging seating groups, then dining tables, all open to the outside deck via the zipped up tenting. The deck wrapped all around the public areas and gave a panoramic view of the plains for miles and miles. Birds were flying in and out, and we could see baboons in a field in the distance. The next day we saw a herd of buffalo in the same area. From out on the deck we could see the infinity pool one level below, and below that was a giraffe eating leaves from a tree.

 

 

 

Our favorite dining spot was right by the "window," where we could see out but the birds left us alone. One of my favorite things was the french press coffee they served everywhere. It was delicious! I have tried to make it at home, but it hasn't been very good so far. I need to experiment a bit with the coffee beans I buy and the right grind. It was easy to skip the bread. The bread wasn't tempting (except for the croissants).

 

 

 

It seemed so fancy and civilized after our mobile tent. We marveled that our planner had thought to build up to this experience for the end of our trip, something I don't think I would have focused on. Definitely the cherry on top!  We sat down to another family-style meal with six or seven dishes plus bread and dessert -- homemade ice cream!! Always the offer of wine, beer, tea, coffee… however, we had made it a habit not to drink alcohol at lunch as we were focused on rehydrating since we didn't drink much liquid on the long drives. Even at dinner, because of my fall in December, I kept it to one glass of wine. The last thing I needed was to take another tumble in the middle of nowhere.

Edited April 23, 2019 by MJC

[MJC]

We took advantage of the wifi in the lodge to check in back home and then were escorted to our permanent tent. Each one was named after an animal, and ours was Twiga which means giraffe in Swahili. It would be our comfy home for the last two days of our safari. The area on the right with the three trees was where we saw a lot of up close animal activity from our room, mostly impalas, giraffes, water bucks, and buffalo. There was a cleverly hidden trench that kept them from getting too close to the tents.

 

 

 

This next one was across the path from us in the higher row that looked out over the lower row (I will explain later what the stone thing sticking out on the right is). Our lower row had the better view IMO. The flaps on the side gave us privacy from the tent next door while still allowing a lovely breeze.

 

 

There was a small herd of impalas right below our deck to welcome us.

 

 

 

Another beautiful room. Like the tented camp, behind the bed was a canvas wall, and behind that was a shelving unit for our things with some hanging space for our clothes, and a small safe. Along the back wall was a double sink vanity and a toilet closet in the corner. We had a standing water dispenser and a little desk, and woohoo a king size bed. The lamps had rechargeable batteries and we had a radio to call the lodge if we needed anything. After dark we were required to be escorted by Maasai, and they would shine their lights on all the animals nearby as we walked -- hyenas, mostly. In the morning we could see prints in the dirt paths of the different animals that had passed through the camp in the night, even lion prints. So much for the trenches.

 

 

 

 

All of the places we stayed had solar power, so in the evening the lights were low and outside was very dark. We didn't miss tv or the internet at all. We ate leisurely dinners, retired to our room to ready our things for the next day, and read. We'd talk about the things we saw that day and write in our journals, share our photos, listen to the various animal noises, and cuddle in the cool evenings until we warmed up enough to fall asleep. It was so peaceful. Such excitement each day followed by such peace in the evening; a lovely rhythm to the days.

 

[MJC]

After our leisurely lunch it was time for a swim. None of the pools were heated, and because the nights are chilly, the water was not warm. Good for a quick dip, but not warm enough to loll about. We had the pool to ourselves for a short time, but gradually the other guests drifted in after their game drives. Waiters came around to take drink orders. Things became lively (sort of) with laughing and chatting in various languages. A nice change from our solitary stay at the mobile camp.

 

 

 

 

So what is the stone thing attached to our room? Happy dance - it's an open air shower!

 

 

 

The left side had a high wall to shield us from the path.  The right side had this:

 

 

 

It was a joy to shower and change for dinner. At dinner there were 25 or so other guests. We felt like we had returned from the wilderness -- so many people!  LOL

[laurspag]

Anita, I wanted to specifically respond to your post, because it summarizes so much of what I've been struggling with in various aspects, and also with things where I find my opinion changing.

 

One of the areas has to do with nail polish.  Working in a conservative place does mean that seeing blue or green is sometimes frowned upon.  Overall though, it has become much more acceptable, depending on how it is paired with things.  You know how it can be - you need to appear professional, so one thing too many can tip the scale to casual or whatever.  I am seeing people who wear some wonderful colors.  

 

Myself, my current state of attire for work is meh.  so it is not always as polished as I want it to be.  Seeing that I need a gel manicure for it to last most of the time, I tend to go neutral so that I don't have to worry.  If I find that a regular manicure lasts me for the wedding, I think I'm going to give it a go for the next cruise, possibly.  We'll see.  Then I can wear red, blue, whatever I want!  But I am definitely more attracted to colors like the one you posted, because I always have this overwhelming desire to look pulled together and classy, and those were the adjectives I thought of when I saw the color.  That is not to say other colors are not, just that seeing that wonderful color reminded me of those things.

 

I have found that I need to really broaden how I think about earth tones when shopping.  Stores ten to have little option, and/or bad lighting, so I look online to shop.  A nice by-product of that is being able to filter by color.  I am reminding myself to choose all color options except black, white, gray and silver.  It's amazing how much is pares everything down because so many items are black, and your attention span and spirits can go down once your are in page 10 of dresses and they've been 90% black, you know?  But here is the key thing; I'm not just looking for brown.  Or red.  I'm trying to look for warm colors that work for me.  I'm amazed to look in my closet sometimes, and see three olive shirts, but no other green.  I need to realize that if I don't want look like leaf peeping season all year, I have to not just let myself zero in on certain shades.

 

I remember before I lost weight, I have dress pants for work in a warm, dark purple and darker teal.  They were fabulous earth colors, and didn't "jump out at you" from across the room, simply because they weren't black or brown.  

 

Another thing is finding neutral tops to go with those special pants I do find.  I currently have a caramel colored pair of pants and rust as well, which I love.  But when I look for warm neutrals, I end up with an ivory top (not my best) and a light beige or khaki sweater, because that is all I can find.  

 

I also need to get out of the capsule wardrobe thing, which I never realized I was partly subscribing to.  Here is the thing: when you are struggling to get the right pieces, those few ivory shirts and beige sweaters get switched around over and over with the different pants.  When I lost weight, I needed core pieces like that and stuck with them.  I literally wear sleeveless shirts with lightweight sweaters to work all year.  

 

Scarves and jewelry are a big help, but I'm really bored, and looking for things that are more interesting and offer me more real options.  Even some darker earth colored shells to wear under a darker sweater or the old beige ones would liven up my wardrobe.

 

And another thing: I look better wearing darker tops and lighter ones. It makes me look and feel more proportional.

 

There, I've babbled enough!  I'm off today, and have a doctor's appointment shortly.

 

Margaret, your pictures have me seeing Africa in such a different light.  I would love to go there someday and explore.  It is so much different than I expected.  I can't get enough of your pictures.

 

Melody, you and Les look like you had a wonderful time.

 

Check out Athleta - I'm seeing a nice rusty tone lurking.  Yes, I'll still buy it, lol.  It's casual wear, and I could use the pieces I'm looking at, if I can get myself to splurge!  Like, I really don't need another bathing suit, but I just love that color.  I need to check it out again now that I am on my computer and not my phone, but it definitely looked like a good choice.  I wasn't sure about the neckline...a squared neck tends to broaden my shoulders.

[MJC]

Laurie, I ordered that brown dress:

 

https://www.jjill.com/product/crochet-trimmed-a-line-dress?color=2LQ

 

I'm a bit curvier than the model, and on me the dress is like a loosely fitted sheath, with some shape to the torso until it meets the "ruffle" part at the bottom. It's not so much like an A that it hangs loosely from the shoulders, the kind that hits your chest and then billows out. Though you are narrower in the hips than me, so it will look different on you. The color is nice and the weight of the fabric is perfect.

[MJC]

p.s. it has insert pockets

p.p.s. I ordered a medium and it fits, which is surprising, since I am at the larger end of a size 12

[laurspag]

Margaret, I'm womderingvejat size I should order.  I really like that dress.  I'm a 10 on top but 6 on the bottom...maybe I'll try a small?  I can return ot at the mall.  Or maybe see if it is available at the mall to begin with.

[Sailor_Sally]

I would order a small . I am an 8 and that is perfect .

 

Margaret , That was a trip of a life time .

[MJC]

Laurie, I'm a 38 dd now and the M fits me perfectly in the chest and shoulders, and is fitted around my ribcage before it starts to curve out a bit. It is fitted but not tight or snug. It is definitely not flowing in that area. I think the M might be too full in the hips for you though. Perhaps a S for you. It is like a good quality t shirt, heavy enough for no show through but still the right weight to drape a bit. Since I wear my hair up a lot in the summer, I like the pretty V in the back.

 

It's funny you mention green. I got the new May catalog today and it's full of more of that moss color, and a subtle leafy green called palm that might work for you. I want to send you a link but they're not online yet.

 

 

[MJC]

Sally, it really was unforgettable. We have gone to some amazing places, and I have never picked a favorite because they have been so different. But, I have a favorite now.  🙂 

 

It helped that we took our airfare budget and added it to what we had already set aside for the safari. The FF plane tickets allowed us to have some extra days and a private guide, and maybe to spend a bit extra on accommodations. The extra days certainly gave us a more leisurely experience. Going in the short season gave us a bit of a break on prices. With some of the package tours we looked at, the international airfare was included, but the internal flights were not, or vice versa, so the prices were really steep, but the actual safari time was not nearly as extensive as what we had, and we still would have had to buy some of the plane tickets.

 

Also, people travel differently and have different expectations. Some people want a more vacation-y experience, with spa time and shopping and whatnot, and that's fine. Some have a limited window for travel and are happy with a week. A week in Tanzania is nothing to sneeze at! I understand that the big five are a checklist for some people, and we are of course happy we got to see all of them, but what we really wanted was an adventure, and an intimate experience of the magic of the place. I think we scored on both counts. Most days we were out for HOURS, and I'm sure there are folks who would not have been as entertained by that as we were.

 

[Anita Latte]

Wow, Margaret, your last accommodation was really spectacular! What a view! And that shower! Back in the day, when DS played soccer, I used to think how convenient it would be to have an outdoor shower. I think I'd seen one in a magazine or read about one...and I loved the idea of DS rinsing off the grass, etc., and getting his evening bathing done before even heading into the house. Ever since then, the idea of an outdoor shower has been appealing in different ways...I've thought that if DH and I end up buying property in FL that an outdoor shower of sorts would be excellent for post beach days. I'm super inspired by that shower you had!!

 

I agree that everyone's idea of an ideal vacation or travel involves different things...us camping in Alaska is a prime example. Not everyone wants to do that...but for us, a visit to Alaska without feeling like we had gotten into the wilderness and into the last frontier a bit would have been a major sadness...it was a must do for us. The beauty of seeing in detail how we all do what we do when we go on vacation is this idea of editing each other's plans so that we can see what we would do differently and what we would repeat as is. Now that your report is done, I know that I will read through it again...maybe several times for reference. Thank you again so much for taking the time to share. Well done. I enjoyed every minute of it!

[Sailor_Sally]

Margaret , I think the unique accommodations were my favorite  part of your trip next to the animals . I love accommodations that are not run of the mill .I am currently looking for our hotel in Amsterdam and there are some very interesting choices .

[MJC]

Sally, years ago when we were young and on a very tight budget, we went to Amsterdam and stayed in a hotel on the Prinsengracht that was a few row houses put together. It was charming. We were on the top floor in the dormers with a big window looking out over the canal. We loved it except for the four flights of stairs. :)

 

We were in the Seronera region for two days, so I still have a handful of pictures from Africa to share before I'm done, and some final thoughts to share. Between the start of classes last week and the two holidays I've been very busy lately!

 

Anita, I forgot to answer your question about Zumba. I was very restrained in my movement, and felt very weak. I had to modify a lot so that I could protect my patellar tendons. But, I made it for the whole hour! I was very, very sore later in the evening even after icing. I used my tiger balm at bedtime, and the next morning I actually felt ok. I have to focus very hard on making sure I hinge my leg very straight forward and avoid any kind of twisting. That is challenging because even though the knee is a hinge joint, they have a lot of play. I've done Zumba at home a couple of times since with the hope that when I take class again this Friday I will see some improvement.

 

 

 

 

[awhfy]

Margaret, patella tendon issues are serious. Have you considered an aqua Zumba class? I know with my foot issues the aqua classes (Pilates, barre & Zumba) have allowed me to maintain my fitness & flexibility. I loved the land classes, but the aqua has been so much more beneficial for me. 

 

I ‘I really don’t want your Africa story to end!  Melody