Decisions, decisions!

Although  I am allowed two suitcases flying from Atlanta to Johannesburg, I  can only check a single 20kg  bag  when  I travel on to Cape Town.   I have booked on Kulula  which  is modeled a bit like Southwest Airlines – budget with humor.  Only Kulula is a lot funnier.  Check out their new plane— Flying 101.  Such a giggle!

The first time I flew Kulula we were about to take off when the pilot announced, with a heavy foreign accent, that he was so happy to be in beautiful South Africa flying this plane.  We could then hear him asking someone in the cockpit to hand him the manual so he could study take-off procedures as he hadn’t flown this type of plane before.  The passengers, looking taken aback at first, quickly  realized the joke and collapsed in laughter.  The humor continued unabated and had passengers grinning and chatting to each other about it.  Possibly my most fun flight ever. 

But, far less fun, will be trying to keep the weight down as I pack my bags.  I  am hoping to pack flippers (for my daughter), a large plastic art tube to bring back two of my sister’s etchings (one was her birthday gift to me), the kindle I am bringing my sister-in-law and an iPod speaker system to leave in Cape Town.  This of course is before the shoes and sneakers, before the clothes for hot and cool weather,  before the toiletries and make up, the meds, the books  (I don’t have a Kindle).  And, most importantly, before the jewelry. 

I design necklaces.  Many are quite large and dramatic.  And rather heavy. I use hand-blown glass, old amber, Ethiopian silver,  camel bone, intricate trade-beads…. I have made necklaces for every one of my outfits.  I buy most of my clothes in Thrift Stores (so I can afford an extensive wardrobe).  But consequentially I have an embarrassingly large collection of necklaces.  Paring them down for a trip is one of my least favorite tasks.  Should I take the chunky necklace with the stunning amber I found in an outdoor market in Nairobi?  How about the pendant with the Baoule Bronze from Ghana? Oh, and I mustn't forget the little necklace with beautiful recycled glass beads -- it looks great with jeans.   And the multi-strand red.... and the ... ???

Decisions!  Decisions!

Recycled glass

East African Copal/Amber

Amber and Baoule Bronze