Pete Conant

Sorry to be so long to get back to you, especially after you took such effort to write me a newsy letter. Anyway, as I predicted, it is not going to be possible for me to come for the reunion, much as I would like to soak up some California heat right now, since we are in mid-winter.

Many thanks for the letter. Yes, my Dad was your gynecologist. Unfortunately, he died about 8 years ago, leaving my Mom still on Ridge Road. She's getting on in age now, but is still going strong, and I communicate regularly with her by e-mail, so there is no need for you to pass messages. Anyway, contrary to popular belief, we do have telephones [and the internet] here, which at least work most of the time. We also have TV and electricity...You can even get satellite TV for a price. You can also get a full time maid for a smaller price-about $60/month. And we do have elephants and lions and snakes and all the rest, but at least in South Africa, certainly most of those are confined to the parks.

I'm employed in Nature Conservation, and am head of a research unit involved in use of natural resources. I also have a small farm where I keep about 20 jersey cows, a few sheep, and far too many ducks and turkeys. I have started a small ecotourism venture, and take small personalised groups around on custom tours, and can organise hunting, fishing, etc as well. Call it a hopeful early retirement, if all goes well.

Africa is a wonderful, terrible, strange, amazing experience, all wrapped up in one. I've been here [and elsewhere in Africa] for 25 years now, and whilst its easy to be cynical, when you understand its not America, or Europe, and don't expect thing to be the same, you can get along reasonably ok. It can be terribly frustrating, and sometimes I wonder what life would have dished up if I'd stayed in Nevada County and grown grapes, or something. At least I'm pretty sure I would never have seen so many sights as I have, caught so many strange fish, nor been bitten by a cobra.....

Anyway, Sherry, I do wish all the party goers a great reunion, filled with nostalgia, surprises, and FUN. Please share this message with anyone who is interested.

Please give Millie my best. I remember her best playing the accordion in Mrs. Else's 5th grade [I think] at Hennessy. I was so impressed that anyone could do all those things at once.....

Kind regards; and hope to see you for the next one.
Pete

I finally got a digital camera, and though I certainly haven't mastered it [it comes with a 100 page instruction book], I have figured out how to take a basic pic and attach it to an e-mail. I've got 2 choices as to the file size; one 10% the size of the other, but for the sake of clarity, I decided to send the bigger one. With the slow connection speed here, I suppose that will take 20 minutes...Please let me know if it comes through ok.

I'm on track to take my early retirement in the next month or so. Have great hopes for my safari business; I think Americans somehow find Africa a desirable, but somehow daunting destination, and I'm going to concentrate my marketing there. Besides, it simply is great value for people with dollars; even with the recent strengthening of our Rand.

Re: the attached, this thing actually slithered into the kitchen the other night! It is 9' long and I think it was after one of the small dogs; I've lost 2 to these pythons over the years already. Hopefully that isn't exactly the sort of thing that puts people OFF a trip to Africa....

Regards,
Pete

February 2005... Pete sent photos of his jungle abode!
Click on the photos for a larger view...

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