I am surrounded by the remnants of me. My day planner rests in its little spot, suddenly full of friends, work and fun. Mad little scribblings adorn the various scraps strewn across this desk, names of random papers and magazines grace each little line.
I am sitting in the office of a home that once left my life and now has returned. The owner, one of the nicest, most amazing people that I know. I am again on Oak Street, a mere block from downtown.
I have spent the day immersed in work. I met a man passionate about the planet and his trade. I met another passionate about humankind. I will write stories about these people and their work and I will write about many other things in the hours and days to come.
Life continues to be good to me. My full of work day planner is evidence of that.
I have just returned from a perfect evening.
The evening began with the donning of a coat, hat and shoes. I walked out of the door onto streets so very familiar, feeling as though I was lost in a dream. The lamplight’s glow wrapped me in warmth and ushered me to the next light, the next step, the next memory. I wandered past Northpeak, where oh so many memories have been made. I found my pace slowing as I entered downtown, the lights of the shops and the treasures within drawing my gaze and giving me pause. The comfort of a plethora of scenes played out on these very sidewalks, in this very place, brought a feeling of contentment to the forefront of my being.
Filled with this new, unrequited love, I entered a place I knew all too well at the side of a dear friend I had missed so very much. Mandy bought us tea and we relaxed in the window of the café. We spoke of writing, life and lifetimes past. We spoke of things to come and things yet unknown. The State Theater’s pulsating lights gave her eyes a life of their own and her smile only added to the brilliance of the new moment being shared in the old room. We laughed, we drank and we became a bit more energetic thanks to her Jasmine tea.
We exited and wandered across the road to the State, mistook a screen for a paper sign and discussed how the French had royally screwed up Made-Line. (insider right there!) We said our goodbyes in front of Horizon. As she walked away I slowly turned to enter the welcoming Mecca of books. That’s when it hit me. The glow of downtown, the company, the perfection of it all. Another moment, a moment in which I realized that I am truly living, a moment in which I knew that I was alive. Downtown sparkled, our laughter still echoed in my mind and one of my favorite destinations smiled down upon me, bidding me enter and continue my high! And thus, I did.
I wandered again through downtown on my return to this home. I stopped and scoped out menus, I listened to music, I smiled and felt fulfilled.
I now sit here, Diana Krall sings about me being a bit of red wine in her veins. That is perfection; for this night, the sights, the company, the strangers have all been a bit of red wine in my veins and I am pleasantly buzzed, yet again, on this wonderful thing called life!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Final Adu
The time has come for me to cease this foreigner existence. I have begun packing and playing in earnest. I have thrown away more of my meager worldly possessions as the phrase “baggage fees” does not mix well with the title “volunteer.”
For the past year and two months, I have lived the life of one who has slipped into an issue of National Geographic. Everyday I awoke to the sights and sounds of the third world. Bustling, crowded open air markets were my grocery stores, flamboyantly decorated buses full to bursting of people were my transport, a new and strange voice my only language and the knowledge that each day would hold a new adventure the likes of which I had never seen became the reason for my leap out of bed. I have walked two pairs of sandals into oblivion during this experience and my running shoes are paper thin thanks to the cobble stone streets and steep terrain. I have watched the sun rise over the black sand beaches of Guatemala’s Pacific coast and watched it set over the lava fields of Pacaya, one of Guatemala’s more than 20 active volcanoes. I have slept within mosquito netting deep in the heart of the jungle while being serenaded by the sounds of Howler Monkeys and Jaguars hunting. I have braved the urban jungle as well. I worked with Guatemala City’s most impoverished, walking amongst the trash with them, entering their homes and experiencing the hospitality of one who has nearly nothing to offer, but is happy to offer all that they have. I have seen violence, happiness, sadness, loss, gain, gratefulness and success. I feel as though I have lived 100 lifetimes in the time that I have spent amongst these Guatemalans, Germans, Americans, Mexicans, British, Africans, Dutch, Chinese, Koreans, Canadians and French. I have befriended people from every continent on this planet. The offers of places to stay and people to play with are now open to me in almost every country in Europe and many other countries throughout the world.
In mid-October I will return to Traverse City. I look forward to this homecoming! I can not wait to see the people that I treasure and the places that I love. I know of some losses, such as Mike Moran (who now lives in San Diego and will be taking the music scene by storm any day), but I have heard of so many wonderful things. The State Theater continues its brilliance, downtown will still be my most favorite of places, Amical and Northpeak remain open as do so many of the other perfect restaurants and businesses that I frequent when home. I simply cannot wait to return home and begin life in Traverse City anew.
With that happiness comes a certain measure of sadness. Those that I have met here in Guatemala have become so very dear to me, the thought of leaving pains me so. But, this country has been a rebirth, not a permanent exodus from life for me, as it is for almost every one of them. They all will soon begin their journeys back into “the real world.” They will find, as I am sure that I will, that this “real world” is completely changed in their eyes. One can not do the things that have been done or see the things that have been seen and remain unchanged. My love and care for humanity has increased ten fold. This human condition that we find ourselves in will always fascinate me and I will always strive to improve the conditions of those less fortunate than I.
And so, barring any acts of God, I will be “home” in less than two weeks. I have many things to do upon my return! One of my best friends just had a baby that I must see, I am about 150 Apple Martinis behind all of my friends and I have not hit anyone with a snowball in two years. A lot of catching up to do! Parking Patrol beware!!
For the past year and two months, I have lived the life of one who has slipped into an issue of National Geographic. Everyday I awoke to the sights and sounds of the third world. Bustling, crowded open air markets were my grocery stores, flamboyantly decorated buses full to bursting of people were my transport, a new and strange voice my only language and the knowledge that each day would hold a new adventure the likes of which I had never seen became the reason for my leap out of bed. I have walked two pairs of sandals into oblivion during this experience and my running shoes are paper thin thanks to the cobble stone streets and steep terrain. I have watched the sun rise over the black sand beaches of Guatemala’s Pacific coast and watched it set over the lava fields of Pacaya, one of Guatemala’s more than 20 active volcanoes. I have slept within mosquito netting deep in the heart of the jungle while being serenaded by the sounds of Howler Monkeys and Jaguars hunting. I have braved the urban jungle as well. I worked with Guatemala City’s most impoverished, walking amongst the trash with them, entering their homes and experiencing the hospitality of one who has nearly nothing to offer, but is happy to offer all that they have. I have seen violence, happiness, sadness, loss, gain, gratefulness and success. I feel as though I have lived 100 lifetimes in the time that I have spent amongst these Guatemalans, Germans, Americans, Mexicans, British, Africans, Dutch, Chinese, Koreans, Canadians and French. I have befriended people from every continent on this planet. The offers of places to stay and people to play with are now open to me in almost every country in Europe and many other countries throughout the world.
In mid-October I will return to Traverse City. I look forward to this homecoming! I can not wait to see the people that I treasure and the places that I love. I know of some losses, such as Mike Moran (who now lives in San Diego and will be taking the music scene by storm any day), but I have heard of so many wonderful things. The State Theater continues its brilliance, downtown will still be my most favorite of places, Amical and Northpeak remain open as do so many of the other perfect restaurants and businesses that I frequent when home. I simply cannot wait to return home and begin life in Traverse City anew.
With that happiness comes a certain measure of sadness. Those that I have met here in Guatemala have become so very dear to me, the thought of leaving pains me so. But, this country has been a rebirth, not a permanent exodus from life for me, as it is for almost every one of them. They all will soon begin their journeys back into “the real world.” They will find, as I am sure that I will, that this “real world” is completely changed in their eyes. One can not do the things that have been done or see the things that have been seen and remain unchanged. My love and care for humanity has increased ten fold. This human condition that we find ourselves in will always fascinate me and I will always strive to improve the conditions of those less fortunate than I.
And so, barring any acts of God, I will be “home” in less than two weeks. I have many things to do upon my return! One of my best friends just had a baby that I must see, I am about 150 Apple Martinis behind all of my friends and I have not hit anyone with a snowball in two years. A lot of catching up to do! Parking Patrol beware!!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Face of God in the Waves
I have bid a fond farewell to the ocean and witnessed the face of God.
Amid the crashing waves of Saturday’s 10PM hour I stood on a black sand shore. I have been to many “houses of God,” but in this house, I truly felt that I was in the presence of something grand. The black sand was my pew, the immense crash and roll of each wave my choir, the piercing moon and towering clouds my cathedral and rolling thunder of the distant storm my voice.
Each wave came in like the hand of destruction, blossoming out of a rippling sea to come crashing down upon itself mere meters in front of my person. The force of each wave shook the earth beneath me and the aftermath wrapped itself around me, oftentimes with such force that I was forced to dig in to the sand upon which I sat so as to avoid being swept away.
I stood or sat, depending on my bravery, watching the waves appear in the moonlight. Were I any sort of photographer, I would have been able to catch one of the myriad of moments that allowed me to witness a sword of lightning pierce the sky just as a newly born wave broke free from its under water bonds. Seconds after the strike, the thunder would roll through the warm night air adding to the majesty of the moment its own core rattling chorus.
The clouds were mammoth, towering beasts, holding God, no doubt, somewhere in their mighty midst. As I looked up at the sky I realized that no time, sweat or money need ever be wasted on a simple building ever again, not when God built churches such as this.
I looked up into the waves, the lightening and the clouds and said a simple thank you. Thank you for this moment, thank you for this time, thank you for this breath, thank you for the sight to see and the strength to follow that sight.
I leave Guatemala in one week. I said a thank you for my time here and I bid farewell to the waves, the heat, the smell of freshly cooked shrimp and Dorado. I bade farewell to the Reggaeton, the palm trees and the skinny little dogs. I allowed the ocean to swallow me up and spit me out and I turned and walked away.
This will not be the last time that I witness grand waves on an open sea, nor will it be my last time in Guatemala, but it is the last for this experience, this life altering existence that I have just survived.
I am not one to seek out God in a building, whatever its name may be. But, when the Creator shows Him or Her self to the land so very plainly, I will most certainly not ignore it. To be encouraged to experience every moment is part of the perfection of life. Would that all of us could experience every moment for what it is….miraculous in scale, mammoth in presence, perfect in my eyes.
Amid the crashing waves of Saturday’s 10PM hour I stood on a black sand shore. I have been to many “houses of God,” but in this house, I truly felt that I was in the presence of something grand. The black sand was my pew, the immense crash and roll of each wave my choir, the piercing moon and towering clouds my cathedral and rolling thunder of the distant storm my voice.
Each wave came in like the hand of destruction, blossoming out of a rippling sea to come crashing down upon itself mere meters in front of my person. The force of each wave shook the earth beneath me and the aftermath wrapped itself around me, oftentimes with such force that I was forced to dig in to the sand upon which I sat so as to avoid being swept away.
I stood or sat, depending on my bravery, watching the waves appear in the moonlight. Were I any sort of photographer, I would have been able to catch one of the myriad of moments that allowed me to witness a sword of lightning pierce the sky just as a newly born wave broke free from its under water bonds. Seconds after the strike, the thunder would roll through the warm night air adding to the majesty of the moment its own core rattling chorus.
The clouds were mammoth, towering beasts, holding God, no doubt, somewhere in their mighty midst. As I looked up at the sky I realized that no time, sweat or money need ever be wasted on a simple building ever again, not when God built churches such as this.
I looked up into the waves, the lightening and the clouds and said a simple thank you. Thank you for this moment, thank you for this time, thank you for this breath, thank you for the sight to see and the strength to follow that sight.
I leave Guatemala in one week. I said a thank you for my time here and I bid farewell to the waves, the heat, the smell of freshly cooked shrimp and Dorado. I bade farewell to the Reggaeton, the palm trees and the skinny little dogs. I allowed the ocean to swallow me up and spit me out and I turned and walked away.
This will not be the last time that I witness grand waves on an open sea, nor will it be my last time in Guatemala, but it is the last for this experience, this life altering existence that I have just survived.
I am not one to seek out God in a building, whatever its name may be. But, when the Creator shows Him or Her self to the land so very plainly, I will most certainly not ignore it. To be encouraged to experience every moment is part of the perfection of life. Would that all of us could experience every moment for what it is….miraculous in scale, mammoth in presence, perfect in my eyes.
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