hasta luego

Rain still falls and wind still blows. However, there is mostly sunshine. The students have been outside for recess (yippee) and I walk on firm paths, not squish through the mud. The monkeys have returned to the neighborhood.

I kept a neighbor’s dog over the long Thanksgiving weekend. She walked with me to my fig tree and down to the river. Whenever I let her outside by herself, she trotted through the woods back to her porch. The weather was sunny and warm most of the weekend, beautiful for hiking. The chorus did not have its usual Saturday practice, so I tried the ultimate frisbee game. It was a fun workout, adults and kids.

Jonathan and Heather hosted a lovely Thanksgiving potluck supper for about sixteen people. I felt fortunate to be part of the friendly gathering. It was nice to talk with co-workers and get to know their family members a little more. My thoughts meandered to memories of Thanksgiving last year. My mother provided a feast for the gathering tribe in Maryland. Josef arrived with three Haverford buddies. Silas and I flew from New Mexico. Other relatives came to the house, too.

This year Mom is gravely ill with cancer. I made arrangements to leave work a few weeks ago, but Mom insisted that I wait until after Thanksgiving. She planned for her offspring to gather with her the first weekend of December. I have kept busy here in Monteverde while feeling anxious about seeing Mom and very sad about her suffering. Now, I am packing to leave.

I will not be writing in my blog for awhile.