Jim and Judy in October

Where in the World Were Judy and Dad/Jim/Grandpa?
That would be Kenya, of course, as every family member within shouting distance – Brazil, Italy, North Carolina, Colorado and Kansas -- by now well knows. We’re still roasting in the after glow of our two-plus weeks there.

We’ve wrestled 3,700 digital pictures down to 300 and could probably cut that to a precious half if you don’t like lions eating wildebeest flesh, crocodiles waiting to nab a passing baboon or an elephant figuring out if it’s worth the effort to charge those two old people with cameras.

Not only did we bring home all those pictures, but also Judy returned with a nasty bronchial cold that hasn’t yet abated, and I got a dreadful case of hives from washing underwear in dirty water or something, or so guessed the doctor.

Some of the memorable moments were these:

* An inspiring visit to a fishing village called Kolunga on far-away Lake Victoria where bright, happy kids run up to strangers to introduce themselves and shake your hand. Many are orphans of AIDS-stricken parents and attend a school badly in need of our help (more about that later).

* Watching a mother lion and her two year-old sons devour a wildebeest. The kids were playing with their food and one enjoyed a tug-of-war with a rope our guide tossed to him.

* Finding us all alone in Ruma National Park off Rusinga Island on Lake Victoria where three endangered antelope and giraffe species are at home, and enjoying a surprise breakfast there under an acacia tree.

* Waiting in awe as thousands of wildebeest troop dutifully to the Mara River for their twice-annual migration. They’re hard-wired to plunge pell-mell into the water and furiously swim knowing the crocs are perfectly content to pick off their kids.

* Hand-feeding a baby bottle to 4-month-old Lola, an orphan rhino.

* Delighting in watching a group of Samburu young people performing for us. And, yes, those shukas (red cloths) they wear are their everyday garb.

* Drinking Stoney Tangawizi, a fizzy ginger soda, while sitting around campfires in the evening and listening to Mark Ross, our guide, spin out stories about the fauna and flora so abundant around us.

* Meeting Giulio Bertolli (a kingpin in the Bertolli olive oil family), who owns his Kitich Camp, a private reserve with walking safaris, which he accompanies wearing crimson bedroom slippers and lugging a .375 rifle.

We were so impressed with the work of the Kolunga Village Foundation, which operates the small school we visited. So impressed! Those kids need our help. There are no desks, chairs or tools in their classrooms, and no paper or pencils in evidence. Judy and I want this to be our family Christmas gift charity recipient this year. I promise you it will be money well invested in the future of these beaming youngsters. (We have short DVDs for each of you about Kolunga.)