Impressions: It’s the small things that matter

Finally we can now believe it’s over…I mean Obamamania and now we can only wait to see what this new messiah has for the expectant world. A friend recently joked that a coup has taken place globally and which coup in question? Apparently while Jesus Christ was still ironing his robes ready for a memorable comeback as the Messiah, somebody with the name Barack Obama used the back door and assumed his status, coming as the long waited Messiah to rescue the likes of Iran who were on the verge of being banished to hell. While that may sound blasphemous or mockery in the ears of those who believe in JC, it may hold some water for those who believe in change. But I don’t want to go into politics, today am just rambling about some small things in life that can make a difference especially in times of stress, like when a German guy provokes you (I always new Germans are provocative and always up to something). Hang on, forget that too. So yesterday I woke up not so myself, haggard and stressed and went to work. From where I had to proceed to Entebbe, a good distance from Kampala. After hassling through the traffic jams and crowded taxi park, I managed to get into the Entebbe taxi, almost freaking out from the burning sun and the congestion. I opted for the seat next to the driver and off we went to Entebbe, about 46km away. Some two men behind were chatting about Rose Kabuye’s arrest and how President Kagame will not sit back and let the Germans misbehave. Just as I eavesdrop on the these guys’ conversation, the driver who I had noticed was not your ordinary taxi driver (he was smart and donned sporting dark shades) slotted in a disc and soon some old school ballads were streaming out of the stereo. It started of with some Lionel Richie - Easy, Three times a Lady, Say you, say me etc - then Aerosmith, Michael Bolton. I just listened on and soon I was feeling relaxed and what amazed me the driver was singing along easily word by word and who said taxi drivers never went to school? The brother challenged me; I don’t even know some of these songs word by word. At some moment I thought it was Lionel Richie himself who had just retired into driving a taxi. Before I knew it we were already in Ebbs (as the young call it). Sitting through the boring conference did not do me any favours; I almost regained the stress which I had earlier shed off in the taxi but just as I strolled around the botanical hotel gardens, I bumped into a group of monkeys. Observing their behaviour amazed me; assuring me how close these creatures are to human beings. They jumped onto the chairs in the hotel gardens and for a moment you would think they are having roundtable talks. The naughty animals drink from soda bottles like humans and eat just like their human compatriots. They don’t fear people much if they keep a reasonable distance but are very cautious.Somehow, I got away from the world for a moment and it didn’t require me to go to Hawaii or the Bahamas and somehow I came up with what to write about. Contact: kagire_eddie@yahoo.com