This book is authored by the Blanshard Writers Guild

and based on a true story

In Memory of Edith H. & Otmar M.

Written by

Mary C. Wilfred A C. Pat C. Rose D. Stan H.

Dora H. Rosemary H. Judy H. Graham J. Mary J.

Bill K. Eva L. Anne. M. Constance M. David M. Donna M.

Jack P. Maureen S. Al S. Marie S. Carole V.

(Book Facilitated and assembled by Margaret C.)

Narration by: Mary and Wilfred C. Pat C. Rose D. Stan H

Rosemary H. Graham J. Constance M. Maureen S. Al S.

As I look back at my life, I can honestly say that it has

been an amazing adventure.

       But it wasn't always that way. There was a time when

I knew excruciating loneliness. The kind of loneliness

that aches in the pit of your stomach, and in the core of

your very bones.

       Have you ever felt that kind of loneliness?

I am a lioness, living on the Liuwa Plains, in Zambia, Africa.

I was given the name Lady, by a local African Villager.

And I have the unique female power of estrogen flowing through my body.

       Estrogen is a force so strong in females. It is the power of life, and enabled me to never give up.

I used to run with my family, who were the pride of my life. My hunting skills were well developed and well rewarded. We were the strongest Pride in the region.

But our skills were no match for the air piercing bullets of hunters rifles. This wasn't fair game.

       This was also a time when there was civil war in neighboring Angola and the villagers crossed the border to find food.

       One by one we vanished and grief became a cloud hanging over my life.

       All the joy I had known began to fade away.

       Have you ever lost a loved one or something that meant the world to you? How did that make you feel? And how did you handle it?

   I used to wish it had been me who vanished.

     I used to think that it might have been better than feel the grief and sorrow with every breath.

       How do you survive something like that?

       Sometimes you just have to turn to whatever is left, and hope that it will give you some kind of comfort.

       And that is what I did. Now I am here to tell my story. A story of loss - yes, but also a story of hope, renewal and restoration.

       In this state of tension, in walked a very unique Person. He seemed to have a sense of my plight. His name was Albert. I could feel his sympathetic interest in me and I found that I enjoyed being near him.

Just when I thought I would never trust another human being again, this man worked his way into my lioness heart.

He has been an amazing part of my journey.

       I needed to show him I meant no threat. So I lay down, rolled over and showed him my belly. This is what we as lions do to demonstate submission.

       He had been watching me for a long time. But I was watching him too. After being alone for so long, he decided that he would try to rebuild my life by giving me a new Pride on the Liuwa Plains.

I came to realize that we both shared the same dream.

       The next thing I knew, two young male lions were in a boma. The boma was a fenced in area where the new lions were kept to get used to the region and what would be their new home.

Although this would be an opportunity for me to produce new life, it also held the threat of another lion trying to overrule my authority.

       I was used to the constant threat of hyenas sculking through the dark night, and fighting to survive and retain my position as solitary Queen of the plain.

       But now these two new additions were of my own kind.

       During this time of waiting I found myself quite in an inner turmoil.

I had been alone for so long now. All that I knew had been violently and cruelly taken from me years before. And yet I had survived. Fear and trepidation gripped my heart. Should I hold back and stay with what I knew as safe, or embrace this new opportunity to rebuild my Pride.

These confusing thoughts swirled around my head.

      The day came for the two young males to be released. Instinct kicked in. Whatever happened I was not about to give up my position as Queen and I fought harder than ever to maintain it.

I reasoned that to let the dream of having a new Pride die because of fear, would disgrace the very essence of what our species stands for. We represent power and triumph. I had to do this, in spite of my fears.

This was a new chapter in my life. The boys got the message. I was still in charge.

The bond I had developed with Albert was important to me. Now that there were two new additions I realized that the villagers expected me to keep the other lions away from them.

My authority was key to their protection.

Although I was wary at first, it was actually welcoming to have some companionship again. The males were curious about me. I was glad to have them in my home. One of the males in particular was very affectionate and tender towards me and I chose him to start a new family.

But as time went on I felt disappointed as I did not become pregnant.

The second male also became my partner. I longed to feel life in my belly and become a mother again. I felt expectation and excitement.

But weeks turned into months, and months into years. There were still no cub cries in the night.

I began to feel like a failure. I found myself becoming despondent.

Have you ever been disappointed by a dream that did not work out the way you wished? How did you handle that?

I was anxious and began taking it out on the two males.

Albert was sensing my suffering. He could tell I was losing

hope.

       But sometimes when a dream doesn't work out, it doesn't mean it's a complete failure. It just means you have to come at it from a different angle. Or turn to someone else for interpretation.