We typically watch Jeopardy each night. There are two primary reasons, first we celebrate when we actually can answer some of the questions in a timely way and second, the alternative is painful—watching the nightly news. This week Hank was watching with us when a category about Africa was opened – what country borders Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia? The question is “what is Djibouti?” Without missing a beat Hank said “What is another word for butt.” I am not sure a four year old should know what a booty is or how to properly structure the response to a Jeopardy category; however, he does and he gave us a good laugh. We have learned to be a bit careful about what we say as kids remember everything. So, why do I not know anything about this tiny country?
I say Djibouti. You say-bless you. Djibouti has been independent since 1977 when a referendum passed by a significant margin to disengage from France. The country is located on the Horn of Africa with mostly French and Arabic speaking citizens. The country is curled up like a “c” around the gulf of Tadjoura. Until recently it was never a tourist attraction but the country has a unique geological makeup. According to Lonely Planet “this petite nation is in the process of being ripped in three by diverging tectonic plates. Magma seethes beneath ever thinning crust; Martian -like deserts spew steam from fumaroles, and sunken lake shores glisten with huge salt crystals.” Lake Assam is one of the most alien places on earth. The Lake is the second saltiest body of water in the world, the third lowest place on earth and holds the world’s largest salt reserve. The astral green lake is set off by black volcanic fields. The hot sun evaporates the water and leaves behind perfectly round salt crystals-like salty solid bubbles.
It is suggested you dive into the lake but you physically can’t get below the surface, it is that buoyant. While you are there Djibouti ?? is one of the best places in the world to swim with whale sharks. They are omnivores but it is described as having a freight train swim by. The more I learned about this tiny country that serves as a multicultural trading post, the more I want to visit one day. Thanks to Jeopardy for all those years of making us remember, think quickly, continue to learn and add a bit of competition to our lives.
“Who was the first pinch hitter to score a home run in World Series Play?” If you said Yogi Berra you were correct. I always remember Yogi for his propensity to malapropisms and paradoxical statements. “It ain’t over till. It’s over”; “it’s like deja vu all over again” and my favorite “when you come to a fork in the road-take it.” And in this confusing world today remember Yogi’s general comment on life, “90 per cent of baseball is mental, the other half is physical.” Don’t take the world too seriously!
Enjoy the day. Mike