Some times...

Sometimes I can barely believe I live here. Right now is one of those moments. It's late, very late, but I'm still wired (though tired) after my night working at Susie's, a good night as it always is, ending with friends winding down.

Sitting here at my table/desk I thought I heard someone in the yard and walked out to my little dock to see if anyone was about. The moon, though past full, is shining brightly, so I didn't need a flashlight to get down the tricky bit of the path. Moonshine is catching each ripple in the water like a gentle strobe pulse. There was no one out there, so I don't know what I heard, but I'm grateful for it, because it drew me outside, to stand for awhile in the wonder. Baby waves lap the shore. The boats rock on their tethers. I had to fight the impulse (and why? I don't know) to get in the dinghy and just ride...maybe I didn't want to make that much noise....breaking the natural sounds around me, those wavelets, a dog barking far off and away, a time challenged rooster, a loose line banging a mast...the sounds in my nights.

Culebra. I'm so glad I found you.

 

  

  

  

  

 

Bags aren't packed, not ready to go

I booked my ticket for Maine yesterday. Well, I actually booked my ticket for Boston, the closest big airport. And then a shuttle to...someplace I'll find out about sooner than later I expect. Someplace near or in Boothbay Harbor, where I'll be spending the summer with Laurie, working in her hot sauce/art gallery and exploring this part of the world.

Since I've lived in the Caribbean, I've never been gone longer than a month or so at a time, so the idea of leaving for a whole summer, plus an extra month to travel around the US seeing my brother and my children and grandchildren has an element of 'yikes!' to it. But Maine is beautiful, I have a few friends up there and my 95 year old aunt lives in Montreal; it will be good to see her. I'm debating taking a train out west, for the slowness of it, having not seen much of the country in the last 15 or 16 years. And despite my at times negativeness about America, it's a beautiful country in many ways and I miss road trips (I'm already ready to be back and I don't leave until June...sheesh).

Laurie's store is a combo of hot sauces and an art gallery. Just learning the hot sauces will be an experience...take a look at only PART of the store! I figure if nothing else, I'll come home with some awesome recipes for a new sauce!

photo credit: Laurie Knowlton

It looks like one of those beer bars with 89 gagillion types of beer...

For now though, it's good days in Paradox. Except for things like my (and so many others) favorite house on the waterfront being demolished...against all permits. I don't know the whole story yet but will find out as the day goes along...more later.

Don't wait for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day, that day approached with expectations, delight and sometimes dismay, is soon upon us. I'm reminded of the mentor commercial on the radio where a young man is saying to himself, "What should I do? I'll take him to a movie, no! That's not big enough, I'll take him to a ball game, no! It's got to be big, really big!" Then the doorbell rings and a boy says, "Hi, I'm Jimmy. What do you want to do today?"
"What do you want to do?" asks the young man. "Well, I thought we could watch the game on tv," answers the boy. "Yeah, yeah, that's what I thought too." says the young man. Then the voice over says, "It doesn't have to be big. Just spend some time together, just be there; be a mentor." So maybe that is the way to celebrate. Just be there. Start now. If you don't have a beloved, love the ones your with, to re-coin a phrase.

Here is a partial letter John Keats wrote to his fiance, Fanny Browne. I can't think of a better example of a huge gift for the price of a pen and paper.

"My dear Girl, I love you ever and ever and without reserve. The more I have known you the more I have lov'd. ... You are always new. The last of your kisses was ever the sweetest; the last smile the brightest; the last movement the gracefullest. When you pass'd my window home yesterday, I was filled with as much admiration as if I had then seen you for the first time."

This, on the other hand, probably won't do.

Yesterday on the way home via dinghy, I was startled to see that a hillside near me had been stripped of most of its green, only a few trees remaining. I was mentally gnashing my teeth because that was the place where I'd encountered the magic stairs last year, a place of some wonder and joy, suddenly gone. The stairs are still there, surrounded by nakedness, bare and barren. There are light poles and diggings; it looks like a big development is going in, and going in quickly. But I tried to follow my own advice to others and took a deep breath, looking instead at the water and incredible wealth of visual joy literally surrounding me, and remembering that once I got to experience it beautifully. My reward? A huge turtle, its head and entire back above the surface, looking my way before plunging down out of sight. I'll try to hold on to the Lesson of the Turtle today and in the days to come, even while continuing to fight bad land clearing practices here...

Have a memorable Monday. Do something mesmerizing.

Victor Gonzalez, we can see (through) you

A funny thing happened on my way to town yesterday...oh, isn't that just like Culebra? This time the detour from the cart took me to the Muellecito with Laurie, Phil and her Mom to see what Victor had ordered done that was RE blocking the road that he was, by law, ordered to dismantle only the day before.

I'll give him points for clever, even if it won't prevail again the law ultimately. In fact, just the opposite as he is now playing the police, the mayor and other officials for fools, planting trees to block the road. Angry officials are really not your best bet, Senor Gonzalez, but too late now, you cheeky boy! And the posts were a bad idea...I imagine you simply couldn't resist raising the level of *things I snookered you for* ante. (Victor, you see, has a contract to plant indigenous trees, but I don't believe that was meant to be used for a fence...oh dear) And we know you don't think we're the brightest people, but wooden posts don't count as trees. Just joshin', weren't you? Shucks.

While we mulled about, I had a talk with Victor's head henchman. In another universe, I'll admit I'd probably like the guy. I half way liked him as it was. Married, four kids, a, according to him and I certainly believe him, very good paying job...and he's worked for Victor for 20 years. Since he looks pretty youthful now, I'm figuring Victor plucked him quite young, since this man calls him his second father. "Yes?" I asked him, "your first father must have been very bad?"

This man isn't a fool; he knows he is doing a very dirty job, but he is loyal and his wallet is loyal as well. It's, truthfully, pathetically sad. He seems pretty well practiced at putting up the 'this is my job' shield but for a few moments there..well, if you haven't guessed yet, I do a fairly good Pollyanna carrying Don Quixote's lance...with a couple of ninja stars up my sleeve.

Catch up Sunday

The universe told me if I didn't start posting photos of beautiful things and people that I couldn't take any more photos today. Another way of saying the little things are starting to pile up, as happens when I house/critter sit for any length of time...so, being a beautiful Sunday, here are a few Culebra scenes that made it worth bringing out the camera. Enjoy!*

Dawn

A pretty intense water spout the other day

 

Yesterday when the horizon melted

 

I'm loving my orchids!

Almost all of them are blooming or ready to bloom

Sunset on my way back into town yesterday

And after all of that Nature, there is a little local bit here. This is the parking lot of Susie's, where cats are treated like - well, let me put it this way. I'm never letting my cat know how well these are treated. There is also this weird almost albino rooster who doesn't realize he should be abed. He takes little naps but then continues wandering. Chiqui was quite insistent I get his photo since he's such an aberration.

Chiqui was reading palms of dinner guests...particularly the women, go figure -

when I tried to get him *working* he caught me instead

Have a beautiful, peaceful Sunday. Do something restful.

*Don't forget: you can click on the photos to make them large enough to almost climb into