Felicity and I spent the weekend together at Vic Falls, Zambia.  It was a much needed break and wonderful beyond telling to see Fizzy.  We laughed and cried (well, I cried) and I achieved a much needed balance.  Saying goodbye was sad.

For my friends and colleagues at the Buck Institute, I am touched and grateful for the kind words and thoughts you sent me through Felicity.  The money you sent for my birthday will go toward a couple good causes.  Tomorrow we are taking a tiny girl and a 7 year old boy from my community to the eye clinic in Manzini.  Your gift will go a long way to restore and improve sight for both of these children. Thank you.  My needs (aside from jaunting around Africa to hook up with good friends) are pretty simple and even a small amount of money can achieve great things here.  I am careful how I use and do that but I will make sure to post and let you know what my birthday present ended up being.  The best gift was to know that I am missed and that you are keeping up with the stories here.  So many people live and die here after a life of often great suffering.  It is important to me that someone over there knows that Babe M, his baby, Lungile, Nokuthula, and many others lived and maybe loved and laughed and that they died horrible senseless deaths.  I think we can do something here.  I think we can save lives.  Keep us in your thoughts.  Best, Alyson