Lea Lane

Lea Lane
Location
Florida, USA
Birthday
August 26
Title
freelance writer/editor
Bio
“I’ve discovered the secret of life,” Kay Thompson, the eccentric entertainer and “Eloise” author, once said. “A lot of hard work, a lot of sense of humor, a lot of joy and a lot of tra-la-la!” And that's been my life: As a travel writer for over 30 years, I've been around the block (more like around the world), and I write true stories about interesting people and places. I've lived an unconventional life in conventional trappings. Been a corporate VP, worked with foster kids, acted in an Indie ("Nurse 1"), was on Jeopardy!. I've been managing editor of a travel publication, written for the Times, and authored books. OS is my home, but I also blog on The Huffington Post, and I've contributed (mostly anonymously) to everything from encyclopedias to guidebooks. Married young, divorced late; married late, widowed early, I dated lots in-between -- and survived a scary illness. After being happily, peacefully solo for many years, I'm now happily married again. I founded and still edit www.sololady.com, a lifestyle Website for single women. I'm truly grateful for each precious day, each well-earned wrinkle, my family, my cat. Truth, laughter, friendship, late love. And this blog -- on this wonderful site!

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NOVEMBER 19, 2008 9:56PM

101 Words: He Never Calls, He Never Writes

Rate: 24 Flag

I was in Malawi Africa a couple of years ago with a group of journalists. At an official function a dance group was performing.

A dancer asked me to join in the dancing. I was reluctant, but threw off my shoes and moved as best I could to the throbbing drumbeats.

He gestured, I gestured. He sat me down and danced around me for a few minutes, made gestures, and I made gestures back.

Suddenly everyone clapped and laughed.

“What’s so funny?” I asked.

“Oh,” a minister said. “Your new name is Ngunda. You two are now married.”

Author tags:

malawi, travel

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Comments

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EEK. Well, with luck, the new husband is cute and kind. Teaching one to never dance in certain counties without checking the situation fully first.
LOL! Very funny. Did you divorce him, or are you still married?

thumbed
I'm looking forward to Part II
What happens in Malawi, stays in Malawi, eh?
We were moving so fast I couldn't tell if he was cute. Besides, they had to revive me. Later, I thought, hmm, " Can he fix a computer."
As far as I know we're still married if I go back to Malawi. :)
He's probably still pissed you left him. Nicely told, though.
One story told. Nine to go. Pant, pant.
Sorry he doesn't write, tell us about the honeymoon Lea!
Yikes!
AS an aside, when I was 16, my father had the opportunity to move to either Malawi or Munich for a year. He chose Munich. I sometimes wonder how different my life might have turned out had he made the other choice.
Yes, it was hard to let him know, but we didn't like the same music. And:
Stellaa, that too.
Greg, the honeymoon consisted of me running out of the room.
Randy, more stories to follow, as I promised.
Steve, Munich has better beer. And if you had moved to Malawi you would have found that the dirt road highways have no signs because people take them to make shelters. Extreme poverty. Very sad.
So I decided not to take my third husband, and stayed solo.
Excellent, Lea! How far you can go in 101 words...loved this!
That was awesome. Didn't see it coming. Shoulda. Didn't. Great!
Lea, you saucy woman you!
More clueless than saucy.
And nothing happened aside from getting the hell out of there, politely, of course.
Very funny. Especially trying to picture the gestures you made back...
Fantastic! What a story! I'm feeling you here. :)
Lea, is it fair to compare thee to a cross between Jane Austen, Emily Dickinson and Xavier Hollander (writing only, sans Hooker). :-)

I think MTK said it best. SAUCY!!!! But always thought provoking.
OMG! Well,.........at least he dances.......
Congratulations!!!
Terrific story ... gotta love new cultures!!!
Nice courtship. Quicky Divorce?
He's probably trying to text you in smoke signals right now. ;-D

Lea, that was deliciously surprising. Talk about a plot twist.

Thumbed.
Thanks all for the appreciation of cultural differences.
The gestures I made during the dance were waving my hands around, towards him. Now, the gestures after ...
Greg, thank you. What a combo! Do you think Emily Dickenson would have stayed in Malawi and written those little gems of verse? "Because I couldn't stop for my husband the dancer, he kindly stopped for me ... etc."
No Bill, no smoke signals. Not even a Skype.
I guess it could have been worse. It could have been a fertility rite.
I remember you referred to this in an earlier post so you aren't kidding.
Very funny, m.a.h.
And yes, Dorinda I did refer to this in an earlier posting --that I married someone after 20 minutes. And as far as I know, it is legal in Malawi!
picking and choosing your posts dear friend. This was funny. I hope your inbox doesn't fill up "too" much...don't be angry that I'm reading you now either....
If you had only kept your shoes ON....
LOL. I'll remember to be careful who I dance with if I ever go to Malawi - or at least I'll know why no one will dance gesture with me!
I just love reading about your life. You inspire me to...I don't know, eat life. I'm going to work on planning my next trip abroad ASAP. I can't afford to travel like I used to, but I know some cheap tricks thanks to Travelzoo.