Romayne and the Braids!

And so... on one of her many trips to Kigali that Romayne has

made from Pittsburgh, THIS was the trip she decided to have her hair braided. 

So Crystal found some ladies to do it for her and Innes drove them over to our house.  

They said it would take about 4 hours....

So with that Romayne sat down on a little cushion on the floor

and the process began at 2:00pm.

All the hair that would be "attached" to her hair 

is lying in each of their laps.  She starts out smiling!  

Decisions, decisions!

They asked me for toothpicks so they could
part the hair and pick up little fine wisps of
Romayne's Mane! 

Th decision was to do 2 braided strands and not 3---to save time. 

 Romayne checking out the tiny braid.

The long braids start to form on her shoulder.

Now you can see them.

This braiders hair is all "braided" too!

They are really starting to form now. 

We are about 2 hours in.....

Moved porches, too... Because the breeze was too
 much on the other side of the house.

Miss Endurance still smiling!

Here is a real close-up!

Can you imagine someone working on your hair like this? 

Actually we were supposed to both get our hair braided but they couldn't find enough 

braiders....I think about now that I am happy about this outcome.  Sitting still this long

would almost be torture!

 Still a lot of hair to go... in about 3 hours now.

Finally starting up the back of her head. 

Stretch break!  Progress is happening.
Romayne only took a couple of these... so she is really smiling
to be up and about!

Wow, from the back it looks awesome
but still a lot to go. 

 Cute picture of everyone... Finally after about 5 hours Romayne gets to
sit in a chair and the ladies start work on the crown. 

Innocent was getting a great view from atop his house.

Our Fiddler on the Roof!

As the girls were working they were amused at their dark skin
against Romayne's white skin.  

So, we took some "black and white" pictures-
in living color!  

Since the women knew hardly any English,
Innocent was our interpreter all day.
But now... it is getting dark.. We are well
past 4 hours and our other guests were at
the house to go out to dinner....

They kept telling us that at 7:30 they'd be done... 

 Then at 7:30 they said 8:00.
Getting a "bang" out it!! 

Looks like a cascade!

                                        ok... so now it will be 8:30...

Nothing like being behind the waterfall! 

Looking good, huh?

Ok...maybe 9:00?

The flashlights are all out and the work is getting harder since
lighting is dim here. 

The ladies are going more fast and furious and I don't know
how... They had to be exhausted, too.

It is almost 9:30 and the last braid is going in! 

Look how long her hair is!!!!!   

And then she had to stand up so the braiders 

coud cut the bottom of her hair. 

It is all done... and she can still stand up!
And the best part is she is
 STILL SMILING
after 7 1/2 hours!!!!


ROMAYNE  YOU WIN
 "THE MOST PATIENT PERSON
I KNOW" AWARD!

THANKS FOR LETTING US "PICK" OUR
WAY THROUGH WITH YOU!

Now the fun begins.. when she heads home to her family and
friends to get their responses!   Go WOW them, Romayne!

love,
margie