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Springfieldian Sydney Kling wanted to mark her
retirement from a nursing career by doing something both different and
worthwhile. She gathered her courage, did some investigating, passed tests
and panels and at 67, with the blessing of her loved ones, headed for South
Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer. There, her nursing and organizational
skills were used by AIDS and HIV organizations and with infected persons,
their families, communities, and orphaned children. She approached this
situation with some trepidation. Part of her preparation was beginning a
journal, which became her companion for the two years overseas. Now, at the
urging of family and friends, she’s published it, and it forms a
substantial volume. Inside
Outside has a journal’s strengths
and weaknesses. One strength: “dailyness.” The reader comes to
know the people whom Kling knows, the work, the landscape, the way of life,
what’s for breakfast — and Kling’s thoughts on all these.
One gets anecdotes rather than a plot rising to a climax. Some days, or
groups of days, do have their climaxes: the horrendous rape and stabbing of
a young woman and the community’s grief; a magnificent birthday party
for an ordinary child that includes everyone — indicating a festival
quality for a not-unusual milestone. Mostly, though, we hear of meetings,
endless waits for transportation (she comes to expect this and is
philosophical), and the luxury of occasionally having a little time alone.
This dailyness could also be considered a weakness, for one can open the
book anywhere and start reading — even backtrack, if necessary, to
get a grip on a character or situation that’s been explained earlier.
One strength of this particular
journal is that Kling writes a clear and pleasant prose. There are lyrical
passages — never too long — and interesting stories. A
reflection (truncated): “Lots have happened having nothing to do with
why I’m here; makes me wonder. What would I be feeling had I not:
spent so much time in the community, been chased by a bull, bit by a goose,
grabbed by drunks . . . stranded in the middle of nowhere, stranded in the
middle of somewhere, had diarrhea in the middle of everywhere and in front
of everyone . . . washed my hair in freezing water . . . been misunderstood
in some way every single day for 365 days, drunk too much, drunk too little
. . . ” She balances the ledger: “But also had the sparkle and
free love shown me by babies, toddlers, teens, young adults, moms, old
people, dying people, traditional healers, professionals, evangelists, AIDS
victims . . . the last bit of food in the house served to me . . . seen the
sky so spectacular it cannot be described . . . ”
Kling, wisely, has self-published
her book. It isn’t likely that a commercial press would have taken
it, yet it is an experience worth sharing. Kling typed the journal, a
friend rendered good editing, and it was put together by Donna’s
House of Type, in Springfield, for a reasonable fee. The attractive cover
was created by a high-school senior in Table Grove. Five hundred copies
have been printed, and all profits will go to Siyabuswa township to assist
in AIDS education and treatment. Contact Kling (her phone is listed; her
e-mail address is gogoskling@yahoo.com) to learn how to get a copy and how
the money will be forwarded to Africa. If you’re nearing
retirement, or already retired, consider the Peace Corps as an option. This
book will stimulate your thinking about the many things you might do to
signify a change from your previous life, things that are interesting,
challenging, and, yes, worthwhile.
Jacqueline Jackson, books and poetry editor of Illinois Times, is a
professor emerita of English at the University of Illinois at
Springfield.
This article appears in May 10-16, 2007.
