Addiction

Athens and I have a developed an addiction here in Africa.  They say the first step in recovery is acknowledgement of that addiction and to seek help.  We acknowledge our addiction and have even mentioned to other missionaries here that we need help. We keep saying how we need to quite, but we are still struggling to overcome this addiction; our addiction to African hand-woven baskets.  It started out innocently enough, with the buying of one basket.  But we couldn’t seem to stop there, or say no.  The minute we see the “basket man” coming we are running for the door with our money.  It is almost as good as a mall trip back home, except for the “basket man” brings the baskets to you!  When he comes he brings an assortment of different baskets; some are big with handles and a lid, others are small and squat and have no lid.  They can be colorful with purple, yellow or red stripes running around the baskets. When we see him coming we never know what kind of baskets he is bringing, which only adds to the excitement of our basket addiction.  We don’t need these baskets, and we are running out of places in the house to put them but still we buy them. We are becoming hoarders!  There needs to be a ten step program to overcoming your addiction to African hand-woven basket.  I can just see it now, “Hi my name is Carlie and this is my friend Athens and we are addicted to African hand-woven baskets.”  Until we receive the help we need to overcome this addiction, there are still places in this house that would look good with a basket.