Intrigued by Africa: A Memoir

In the Sixties, in a small town on the north shore of Long Island, a young boy finds escape from his abusive home life when he falls in love with, and is inspired by, the image of an impala in the local Chevrolet dealership.

     Throughout his lonely, fantasy infused childhood, he dreams of going to Africa to find this magical animal whose freedom has become a symbol of the life he yearns for.  The hope of escaping from the sadness in his own life is the only thing that keeps him grounded.  

     He spends most of his young adult life in the jungle of New York City instead, pursuing an acting career, but never letting go of the dream.  Finally, at the age of thirty four he makes a decision that will change him forever.  He will go to Africa.  This goal will not be easily accomplished, since his meager salary as a waiter has not allowed for any accumulation of savings.  However, with serendipitous luck and many financial guardian angels, he is able to make the journey to Tanzania, where he hopes to fully realize his dream and experience life with the animals that have been such a focus in his fantasies.  It is the most important step that he has taken in his life, and although he is filled with trepidation he is determined to follow through on his decision. 

     Africa does not disappoint him. Working in the remote Tanzanian bush at a safari camp amongst the impala that he cherishes, he is awed by the proliferation of wildlife, and the organic beauty of the landscape soothes his soul.  To his surprise he develops an unexpected bond with the Africans, even as he is constantly reminded of the cultural differences that separate them.  But he soon realizes that he has entered a new and perilous world where daily survival is the law, as he narrowly escapes death and faces many threats to his personal safety.  As he begins to understand and accept the Africans’ pragmatic outlook on life, he learns more than he could have expected about himself, his battered past, the Africans themselves and the wildlife that surrounds him. 

In this intriguing place, with the Africans at his side, he leaves the burdens of childhood behind and becomes the man he needs to be. Content at last, he realizes that it is better to chase a dream than to settle for a nightmare from the past.