Transience - Blogabond

When I was very young and living in Holland I had a little song I hummed to myself every night as I went to sleep. It consoled me lying there alone, especially when bats flew at the windows, and humming it was an important and meaningful ritual. It puzzled and frustrated me greatly then, when one evening I could not remember the tune. How was it possible to lose something so important after so long, when I hummed it every night? How could my own mind work against me like this? How was it capable of such Independence? Even more surprising, the tune returned some weeks or months later, long enough that I almost didn’t recognize it when it came to me. It was a short-lived Reunion, and I could feel the tune slipping away from me again over several nights until it finally disappeared for good. I remember actually wishing it farewell, and coming to some acceptance of its final disappearance, and I have not forgotten in over 40 years that I once had this song and that it went away…

I mention it as a reminder to myself I suppose, of the inevitability and importance of change. I have been thinking about Tamanrasset since I was 20 years old, and even though the Tamanrasset I am visiting now is something entirely different from that Tamanrasset of 28 years ago, coming here has certainly felt like the fulfillment of something important. It is time, however, to leave.

To Faysel Abdelassiz and to Ben Sebgag Lakhdar, both of whom made my stay here so meaningful: my deepest thanks and very best wishes. I cannot currently imagine the circumstances that might allow us to see each other again, but I certainly hope that we may. “It’s a small world”, I hear, but it doesn’t feel that way to me. To both Faysel and Lakhdar I can only say: “You are my friend, and my door stands open for you”. Niger beckons. Benin beckons. I hope both countries will forgive my current sentiment, which is that this was the climax and the rest is dénouement; I may feel otherwise later. I leave here, in any case, with heavy, heavy heart.

written by

roel krabbendam on February 7, 2007 from Tamanrasset, Algeria

from the travel blog: Harmattan

Send a Compliment

Hey Roel

Just now catching up: I was kinda liking the puddle on the sidewalk with the bones and the teeth.

Your blog is wonderful; your writing superb, your pictures excellent; your sense of irony and good hearted humor a pleasure to experience.

Carry on. Best Wishes. Thanks for sharing.

John KE

written by John Kaplan-Earle on February 7, 2007

You're probably aware of this already, but malaria medicine causes numerous side-effects, not the least of which are nightmares.

written by Larry Libby on February 10, 2007

Hoi Roel,Het is zondagmiddag en heb net een kopje koffie voor mezelf gemaakt. Wat een bijzondere belevenissen beschrijf je.In grote lijnen kan ik je verhaal volgen.Ik mis Henk voor uitleg voor sommige zaken.Maar geniet van al je foto's bij je verhaal. Gaat het al weer beter met de bobbel in je hals ?Doe a.u.b.voorzichtig en zorg goed voor jezelf.Ik wil je van de zomer gezond en wel in je geboorteland zien.Hoe heet het liedje dat je vroeger neuriede voor het slapen gaan ? Succes met je volgende stukje reis.liefs en groetjes.
Nell.

written by Nell Krabbendam on February 11, 2007

tante!!!!
leuke dat je mee doet met het verhaal. na de tour d'afrique hep ik echt trek in een platte tocht met familie er bij en een lekker bed om in te slapen!
alles goed in dooren hoop ik.
cheers,
roeltje

written by

roel krabbendam on February 12, 2007

Hoi Roel,

Wat een onwerkelijke mooie reis maak jij! Ik heb zojuist wat impressies opgedaan van je belevenissen tot nu toe.

liefs, nicht Miriam

written by Miriam Nahon on February 13, 2007

Miriam!!!
wat leuke om zo "out of the blue" van jou te horen!!! Doe je mee aan de grote "tour de nederland" in juni? De hele bende uit amerika komt op visieten.
Hope you enjo the blog!
Roel

written by

roel krabbendam on February 14, 2007

Dag Roel(tje9

Even proberen of dit nu wil lukken.
Gezellige visite gehad met Judith en Luc. en vanmorgen gebrunched met vic, Stephanie en fami;ie. Dit laatste is traditie aan 't worden op Zondagochtend als zij uit de kerk komen. 't Geeft mij 'n kans om weer eens iets klaar te maken voor 'n aantal mensen,'k maak er voor mezelf nooit zo'n werk van .
We kijken uit naar de komst van jouw dames op Dinsdag. Vic's kinderen hadden 't er vanmorgen al over wanneer Mia kon komen slapen.

Ben je alweer aan 't fietsen,of nog steeds aan 't trucken?
De fietstocht komt aardig voor elkaar in Nederland en ik krijg positieve berichten over de familie reunie.
Dikke zoen,
Mam

written by Ger Krabbendam on February 18, 2007

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