I put a great mix on my iPod the other day. It was fabulous. And then I changed it when I came in to Kaolack. And found myself in my village with CAKE's "Sheep Go To Heaven" stuck in my head....and it was no longer on my iPod to listen to.
We eat meals outside here. On the ground. Out of a big bowl. (have I mentioned this before?)
Several times during the day, sheep are moved past our compound, or else our sheep are moved in/out (depending on the time of day). This is a time of general turmoil and chaos.
I'm not feeling alright today, I'm not feeling that great
I'm not catching on fire today, Love has started to fade
I'm not going to smile today, I'm not going to laugh
You're out living it up today, I've got dues to pay
....
Now I just want to play on my panpipes, I just want to drink me some wine
As soon as you're born you start dying, so you might as well have a good time
Sheep go to Heaven
Goats go to Hell
Sheep, go to Heaven
Goats, go to...Hell
.....
The other morning, as I'm humming, I'm not going to laugh... in my mind around the breakfast bowl, everybody else gets up from the bowl to go herd the sheep.
Feeling rather pitiful and helpless, I continue eating. Until 4 pompous sheep come traipsing past me. Trotting in and out of people's huts.
I tell myself I'm a tough Schnur girl and if there is one thing I know it is how to herd animals. (Well, not cats, I haven't perfected that one yet....give me another year or so in Senegal...)
So. I get up from the bowl and walk over and chase the sheep out of the huts they are currently inhabiting.
Where? Where did I chase them?
Funny you should ask.
Triumphantly I turned around! And saw 4 mottled heads happily convened over the breakfast bowl.
Yeah......
I'm not feeling alright today, I'm not feeling okay...
So Ouly and Fanne come back. I meet them before we get to the bowl. The (oh!) sheepish look on my face quickly being won over by uproarious laughter.
So, what did we do?
Ouly and Fanne inspected the bowl. Scooped away the places the sheep's noses made divits in the millet. And we went back to breakfast.
As soon as you're born you start dying, so you might as well have a good time.
Oh, wait.
I'm not done.
As I stood up from the breakfast bowl, the two adorable kid goats that stay in all day everyday come dancing over.
They are just so darn cute!
And they promptly wiggle themselves inside of the netting and thorns protecting a mango sapling in order to supplement their breakfast.
GOATS! Go to ....
