Fog is rising up from the mountains. Lately, it's been so green and wet. Yesterday, was the first sunny day we've had for a week in Puerto Rico. It's drizzling rain again today. Continued rain is predicted for the week ahead. When the sun shines through for a few hours, the day feels clean and fresh.I went to Michigan last week to be interviewed for the documentary again. It was a good trip. Before going, my days were packed with tasks. We had Christmas, New Years, 29th wedding anniversary, Three Kings Day; my daughter, Amber's, 18th birthday party, and several family member's birthday celebrations, which all involved my participation to a lesser and greater degree. Whew! Then I had to deepen my concentration to write a paper to submit for publication, do my part to help my daughter apply to 10 universities, and help my son, Alex, put out some personal and academic fires.
Now that's funny because he accidentally started a kitchen fire just before our big get together for the "Twilight" themed 18th birthday party. (Amber made Japanese paper lanterns to hang on the veranda, and the red-tinged light enhanced by candlelight set a romantic Victorian mood.) We all woke up to a house full of smoke and lots of shouting. The fire was put out. It wasn't too bad- melted plastic and burned pans could be discarded. The fan and light over the stove were melted and had to be removed, the white walls and cabinets were covered in an ashy film. Everything smelled of smoke for a week, but all was fine. (I guess we burned a lot of karma there! :-) We had a lovely evening dinner and celebration. My little girl is 18!
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Do you see the spectre in the shadow behind me? (:-)
(Is it the ghost from Christmas past, present or future?) I'm standing in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Flat Rock, Michigan. It's a cold day spiked with light flurries. Confession. I love the snow. As I stepped out of the airport into the brisk night air, I pressed my hand into the cold snow and remembered my childhood thrill- "It's snowing!! It's snowing!"
There must be a few who share my pleasure, even in the tropics. During the holidays at Plaza Las Americas, we had artificial snow a couple times a day. How funny! The snow-ish flakes were not cold but created
a visual sensation of a northern holiday. The children excitedly ran around catching the suds(?).Some of them have never seen actual snow, and it was delightful to watch their enchanted faces.
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While we've been having rain, my mind has been constantly visited by thoughts of the earthquake survivors in nearby Haiti. Rainy weather, I know from first hand experience, can cause mudslides. Join me in sending healing thoughts to our neighbors in Haiti, and do what you can to help.
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The interview was a success, and I look forward to the film's release in 2011!
May all be well (as you negotiate the weather) in your lives.
