On Saturday I attended a party at Harare Children's home. It was amazing to be reminded of how little activation energy is needed to get kids excited.

If you ever go to a grown ups party notice how the older they are the harder it is to get them to loosen up (Yes, there's always the old balley who will leap onto the dance floor even before the music starts playing, or the overweight Tete who will defy gravity and leap up and down energetically at your wedding). 

But with kids, it's amazing how easy it is to make them happy. They were happy about the special lunch they had- Rice, chicken, gravy, salads AND jelly & pudding for dessert.

They were excited about dancing to Mai Charamba and Fungisai

They were THRILLED when a City of Harare fire engine drove up to the home just after lunch. They burst out of the hall screaming: "FA-YA ENGINE! FA-YA ENGINE! FA-YA ENGINE!"

A dubious looking Santa Claus was riding in the back of the engine. We all jumped on board and joined him- everyone wanting to touch him, to greet him, to hug him screaming: "FA-THA CHRIS'MAS! FA-THA CHRIS'MAS! FA-THA CHRIS'MAS!"

We went for a ride on the FAYA ENGINE with FA-THA CHRIS'MAS and what a blast it was. The siren was wailing but the din from the screams and cheers was louder.

When we came back we danced away what was left of lunch. That Santa dude could move man. I have never seen one who can dance like that- His fake belly was all over the show, on his left, on his chest, on his right...