Nostalgia: Take 2

My last pregnancy was straight forward, problem free, and by the book. Sure, I had normal aches and pains but I was able to work full time all the way to the end.

I was also living in Ethiopia where pregnant women are treated in a special way.

As I sit here typing, I am flooded with memories of kindness from colleagues, friends, family, and complete strangers.

I will never forget the little old woman who dragged a chair all the way to the parking lot of an office I was just visiting and forced me to sit down while I waited for my ride.

Out of breath by the time she reached me, "Sit!" She ordered. And I obliged with a smile although I was perfectly fine standing.

During lunch and tea breaks of big conferences and inter-organizational meetings, I was always magically at the front of the line with a plate in my hand regardless of when I arrived and how long the line was at the time. People didn't want me to wait for anything.

I once went to a cheap restaurant because I was looking for a specific kind of firfir (type of Ethiopian food) that is only available at these places and considered an aberration in fancy ones. I wanted the kind of firfir that burned my throat as it went down. I wanted to taste the berbere (peppers) and crunch the onions.

It was around 2 in the afternoon and I had cut out of the office with a friend just for this purpose.

As we entered the dark little one room restaurant, a woman began to shoo us away saying it was closed but stopped abruptly when she saw I was pregnant.

"Wey! Wey lije!" She exclaimed, "Enatye, come in. I will make you whatever you want!"

She then relit the fire and began to hurry along.

That steaming tray of firfir has to be one of the most memorable meals I have ever eaten in my life.

If I am to be honest, I would also say I was sometimes annoyed by the attention. I felt like people wouldn't allow me to do anything. Everyone was telling me to slow down while I just wanted/needed to remain active.

But now, my memories revolve around the enveloping kindness and warmth I felt. I was always surrounded by people: friends, siblings, parents, extended family.

I miss that.

Through out this pregnancy, there have been days when I missed Ethiopia severely but nothing like during this bed rest period.

I miss feeling rooted in something that I know is fundamentally part of me.