This One's For John

Tracy and the reward

When we moved from our house in Makeni, the bananas from our tree were not ripe. Over two years ago, our friend John Chitambo gave us a tree from Malawi (which was a bugger to dig up by the way). With loving care we watered and tended the tree, anticipating a sweet reward. Then we moved. 

Our friends who still lived in Makeni, Joy and Mala from India, kept an eye on them when they took their daily walks. "In a few weeks they'll be ready"~and Joy knows as he's in agriculture. 

Several weeks ago, under cloak of darkness (actually it was daylight), we stopped by our old place to investigate for ourselves. The bananas had begun to separate and leaves were shriveling. It was time! We also knew it was time because others in the area had helped themselves to the fruit. No fruit tree is safe here in Zambia!

With the help of a friend we harvested our Malawi treat and dug up the "babies" that had begun to grow by the mother plant, which we replanted here. Once a tree produces it is up to the new starts to make "grandchildren."

"Stolen bread is sweet," and although these are actually ours, they are really sweet! Thank you, John!